FAA Bars Small Planes Near Nukes; Airport Security Hit

— -- The Sept. 11 terror attacks had a profound impact on the United States, and the effects are still rippling across American society in large and small ways. Here is a periodic wrap-up of some of them.

FAA Bars Small Planes Near Nuclear Facilities

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 30 — The Federal Aviation Administration today barred charter, business and private planes from flying within a 10-mile radius of all nuclear power plants for the next seven days in response to the nation's latest terror alert.

The first-ever prohibition of general aviation flights, which covers altitudes below 18,000 feet, protects the airspace of 86 nuclear sites including power plants and facilities such as the Lawrence Livermore Lab, Sandia, and Los Alamos, officials said.

The FAA said the list was developed in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The agency issued another temporary flight restriction banning general aviation flights over downtown Chicago for "national security reasons," but officials said the restriction was unrelated to the terror alert — Chicago officials requested it more than a week ago.

Similar general aviation restrictions remain in effect over Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston. —— ABCNEWS' Lisa Stark

Federal Transportation Boss Slams Airport Security

W A S H I N G T O N, Oct. 30 — Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta warned today that there are unacceptable lapses in aviation security, even after stepped-up precautions ordered since the Sept. 11 hijacking attacks on America.

Mineta, speaking to state and local transportation officials, said he is determined to correct the problem, and was asking federal agents to crack down on lax airports and airlines.

He warned that airline passengers may have to be screened twice at airports if problems are discovered, and said operations could be closed down where problems persist.

"If secure areas in airports have been compromised, then we will take corrective actions to recheck passengers, including re-screening passengers," Mineta said. "If a secure area is breached, [Federal Aviation Administration] agents will empty the concourse, re-screen passengers, and if necessary hold flights. If improper screening of carry-on luggage is occurring, we will hold flights and re-screen passengers or luggage. And if we see untrained screeners, FAA agents will stop the operation."