Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 120
03/31/2008 05:00 PM House RULES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB207 | |
| HJR40 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| HB 207 | |||
| * | HJR 40 | ||
HJR 40-ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ATTACK DEFENSE 5:31:41 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 40, Relating to defending the state from electromagnetic pulse attacks. 5:32:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the chair of the Joint Armed Services Committee, sponsor of HJR 40, explained that electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is caused when there's detonation of nuclear devices high in the atmosphere. The EMP sends a shock wave through the world, which will disable the power grid and all the communication systems. Therefore, it will cause a critical infrastructure problem. She informed the committee that in 2007 a national commission provided a presentation to the Joint Armed Services Committee. 5:34:57 PM MCHUGH PIERRE, Director of Communications, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), related the department's support of the efforts of research and understanding, particularly for the rapid response community. He noted that there's no specific funding stream to study the impacts of EMP, although it's being reviewed in a broad-based manner. He expressed hope that HJR 40 would encourage the federal government to help out with this [effort]. In conclusion, Mr. Pierre related DMVA's support for HJR 40. 5:35:42 PM CHAIR COGHILL surmised that the legislature could later be asked to provide funds for some studies. Therefore, he inquired as to the planning that's [occurring] now. MR. PIERRE opined that DMVA has the responsibility to ensure that the state is able to recover from emergencies and possible EMP attacks so that critical infrastructure will remain [operable]. Mr. Pierre said that he didn't see any immediate plus-up in monitor support at this time. However, he reiterated the need to encourage the federal government to make addressing EMP attacks a priority. 5:36:44 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA inquired as to how one defends against electromagnetic pulse attacks. MR. PIERRE deferred to Mr. Treadwell. 5:37:51 PM MEAD TREADWELL, Senior Fellow, Institute of the North, began by noting that he works with the defense and security program. In 1996, the Institute of the North started work on security and defense issues after a recommendation from a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who pointed out that the then-current federal missile defense plans didn't cover Alaska and Hawaii. A precursor to the Joint Armed Services Committee worked a resolution that was heard significantly in Washington, D.C. and ultimately resulted in the withdrawal from the Missile Defense Treaty. Therefore, today there's the ground-based missile system at Fort Greely. He gave Alaska's legislators at the time much credit for raising the issue. He then informed the committee that last year [the Institute of the North] worked with the Joint Armed Services Committee to bring the executive director and a commissioner from the congressionally chartered Commission on Electromagnetic Pulse to Alaska in conjunction with adjutant generals for a briefing. Mr. Treadwell mentioned that much of the U.S. military equipment is hardened against EMP. He then mentioned that in 1962 there was a high altitude nuclear test performed by the U.S. that shut off radio stations and electricity in Hawaii 800 miles away. The aforementioned resulted in the Atmospheric Test Ban Treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. MR. TREADWELL then turned to where [the nation] is most vulnerable from missile attack. He said that it's unlikely that there would be a missile exchange with a super power. However, it's a higher likelihood that one scud missile from a container ship offshore could be aimed at the U.S. Depending upon the location of the detonation, it could result in the loss of communications and power to half of the nation. The aforementioned is why the commission was created and continued. The commission is working on plans for states in the event of power and communication disruption from an EMP. This resolution urges the federal government to put funding forward, accept the resolutions of the commission, and move forward in a national planning basis. He then reviewed the broader work to defend how Alaska would run its pipelines and have heat and power, which hasn't been addressed as well. He then applauded those who have taken the lead on this issue and made it part of all the hazards to the state. 5:43:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON asked if the only type of EMP weapons are nuclear blasts. MR. TREADWELL said EMPs are the only ones he is aware of that would have broad, high intensity, short-duration bursts. However, he said he believes there are smaller ways to dramatically short out systems with jolts, but they would require connection to an electric power grid. 5:44:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON mentioned that some television programs show EMP technology being used to stop an automobile in a chase situation. 5:44:42 PM CHAIR COGHILL pointed out that the resolution refers to the full range of risks, which is fairly broad. 5:45:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA inquired as to any treaties that are in place to address this issue. MR. TREADWELL answered that there are several reports that other countries have been preparing weapons such as EMPs. Unless a specialized weapon is constructed, it's simply a nuclear weapon on a scud missile. 5:46:37 PM CHAIR COGHILL remarked that he is glad the issue has come forward, but he questioned how the state would implement it. MR. TREADWELL interjected that Alaska, as the home for the ground-based missile defense system for the U.S., needs to be aware of the threats that EMPs pose. Although the scope of [the ground-based missile defense] system isn't enough to defend a major barrage of attacks, the system is aimed at small actors with no return address. Having an understanding of the threat in the rest of the country would help folks understand how valuable the missile defense system is, he opined. 5:48:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA commented that [the resolution] might want to also encourage the development of other methodologies beyond the ballistic missile defense system. 5:48:39 PM CHAIR COGHILL pointed out that the language on page 2, lines 22- 28, would likely encompass that. 5:49:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS moved to report HJR 40 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|