By BROOKE GOLDMAN

LAPLACE – Local refineries and plants have increased security since the Sept. 11 tragedy and continue to have a heightened awareness.

Marathon Ashland Petroleum in Garyville has increased their security dramatically, said Human Resources Manager Gretchen Plewak.

“We have reviewed refinery operations and made appropriate changes,” said Plewak.

Marathon has added guards as well as employee awareness.

Plewak said the company has taken many other security measures besides adding guards that can not be mentioned publicly for safety purposes.

Plewak said government security experts continue communication with the refinery to ensure the safety of their employees and of the refinery itself.

“We are still in a high security alert,” Plewak explained. “And we are monitoring government information received through the corporate office.”

Plewak added, “We have reacted to the way things are situated in the country.”

The cost of security has also risen for Marathon due to the increased number of guards.

“The more people you employ, the higher the cost,” said Plewak. “We have gone along with the corporate budget.”

Marathon’s corporate office in Finley, Ohio and the six other Marathon refineries throughout the United States have continued with these heightened security measures as well, said Plewak.

“We have taken a look at our own facility to make improvements and so far we haven’t had any problems,” said Plewak.

Bayou Steel, in LaPlace, has also increased their security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“We feel like our security is in good shape,” said Steve Turner, Human Resources Development Manager. “We have heightened awareness and have been doing internal looking.”

According to Turner, the company has taken safeguards in their mail system because of the recent Anthrax scares.

“We check anything suspicious or out of the ordinary,” said Turner. “Especially if it’s from a source we don’t recognize, we have implemented procedures dealing with these things.”

“Our security has done a great job so far,” added Turner. “We have always felt comfortable with our security but we evaluated where we stood because of Sept. 11.”