IMMEDIATE RELEASE             July 29, 2003

55TH WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM TO HOLD TERRORISM RESPONSE EXERCISE AT CLURE PUBLIC MARINE TERMINAL

Duluth, Minn., U.S.A.—The Port of Duluth-Superior’s Readiness Committee and the Minnesota National Guard’s 55th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (55th WMD CST) will be participating in a terrorism response exercise July 31, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority announced today.

The training and familiarity exercise will begin promptly at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday (July 31) at the Port Authority-owned Clure Public Marine Terminal, and will last until 3:30 p.m. that day. Citizens should be aware that the exercise could include National Guard equipment, vehicles and aircraft, as well as personnel in protective suits. The exercise is designed to enhance cooperation for all state, county and federal agencies involved in responding to a terrorist incident.

The Port of Duluth-Superior Readiness Committee includes numerous local military and public agencies involved in providing security during a hazardous situation. Exercise participants will include 55th WMD CST team members, the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Terminal operator Lake Superior Warehousing Co., Inc., the U.S. Coast Guard and the Great Lakes Towing Company.

The 55th WMD CST is composed of 22 full-time Active Guard members from the Minnesota Army and Air National Guard. It supports civil authorities responding to weapons of mass destruction situations by providing rapid assessment and expert technical advice on WMD response operations, and helping to identify and support the arrival of follow-on state and federal military response assets.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Media wishing to cover the event should contact LTC Eric Waage, Commander of the 55th WMD CST, phone 612-804-7602, for specific location information and details regarding the event.
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Contact: Capt. Ray Skelton, Director of Port Security, phone 218-727-8525

CONTACT: Lisa Marciniak, Port Promotion Manager, phone 218-727-8525

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