Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/14/2003 12:20 PM House ASC
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
April 14, 2003
12:20 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Harris, Co-Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Vice Chair
Representative Bob Lynn
Representative Carl Morgan
Representative Cheryl Heinze
Senator Gary Wilken, Co-Chair
Senator Fred Dyson
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Gene Therriault
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Pete Kott (alternate)
Senator Ben Stevens (alternate)
Senator Gretchen Guess
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Ralph Seekins
Senator Bettye Davis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
^BRIEFING REGARDING HOMELAND SECURITY AND ANTI-TERRORISM
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
TIM BURGESS, U.S. Attorney for Alaska
U.S. Department of Justice
LIEUTENANT GENERAL "HOWIE" CHANDLER, USAF Commander
Alaskan Command
BRIGADIER GENERAL CRAIG CAMPBELL, Commissioner
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs
SPECIAL AGENT TOM McCLANAHAN
Federal Bureau of Investigation
RANDY JOHNSON, U.S. Marshall for Alaska
TED BACHMAN, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 03-2, SIDE A
Number 0001
CO-CHAIR GARY WILKEN called the Joint Armed Services Committee
meeting to order at 12:20 p.m. Representatives Harris,
Dahlstrom, Lynn, Morgan, and Heinze and Senators Wilken, Dyson,
Gary Stevens, and Therriault were present at the call to order.
Senators Seekins and Davis were also present.
BRIEFING REGARDING HOMELAND SECURITY AND ANTI-TERRORISM
2.33
TIM BURGESS, U.S. Attorney for Alaska, U.S. Department of
Justice, began by thanking the committee for allowing the
executive committee of the Anti-Terrorism Task Force (ATTF) to
provide an overview of the cooperative efforts at the federal,
state, and local [levels] in response to terrorism in Alaska.
He noted that the group today meets about once a month to ensure
that everyone is on the same page. Mr. Burgess turned to the
PowerPoint presentation, which he provided in hard copy to the
committee. Mr. Burgess pointed out that after the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S. Attorney General John
Ashcroft shifted the focus of the U.S. Department of Justice to
the prevention of any future terrorists attacks. The
department's first priority is to protect and disrupt any
potential terrorist, which is antithetical to how the department
has approached its job in the past. Historically, the
department's job has been to investigate potential criminal
misconduct and preserve that case for prosecution. However,
because of the nature of the terrorist threat, priorities have
shifted and the prosecution of an offender won't be done at the
expense of preventing a potential terrorist act.
MR. BURGESS turned to the lessons learned from the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001. With regard to the sharing of
intelligence between the intelligence side and the law
enforcement side, a number of the concerns were addressed by the
USA PATRIOT Act, which allows for a freer flow of information
between the intelligence community and the law enforcement
community. For instance, if information of a potential
terrorist threat had been learned through a Grand Jury
investigation, there were barriers to providing that information
to the intelligence community. The reverse was true as well.
Furthermore, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
highlighted issues with regard to communications. In New York
City, the police department and the fire department couldn't
communicate with one another because they had different
communication systems. Therefore, there was a greater loss of
life due to the fire department not receiving the communication
regarding the failure of the structural integrity of the World
Trade Center buildings. The attacks in Washington, D.C.,
highlighted good cooperative efforts.
6.42
MR. BURGESS said that he wanted to present an overview of the
team in Alaska, which includes the Alaska Department of Military
and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) as well as the Alaska Department of
Homeland Security. The Alaska Department of Homeland Security
has a Strategic/Tactical Anti-Terrorism Reaction Force (STAR
Force). Furthermore, the Alaska National Guard is part of
DMVA's team. The State of Alaska also has the Alaska Department
of Public Safety, specifically the Alaska State Troopers. On
the federal side there is the Anti-Terrorism Task Force, which
was requested of every state shortly after [the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001]. The group present today is part
of the executive committee of ATTF. The ATTF is composed of
individuals from the participating agencies that are tasked to
work with the group. The executive committee that is present
today is comprised of the heads of the participating agencies.
There is also the newly formed Department of Homeland Security,
which includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Safety
Administration (TSA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),
and other federal agencies. The team also includes Alaskan
Command and local law enforcement throughout the state. Mr.
Burgess specified that the ATTF executive committee consists of
the U.S. Attorney; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI);
the commissioners of the Alaska Department of Military and
Veterans' Affairs and the Alaska Department of Public Safety;
Alaska's attorney general, the Admiral commanding the 17th Coast
Guard District; USAF Commander, Alaska Command; the U.S.
Marshal; the chief of the Anchorage Police Department; and the
director of TSA.
Number 9.30
MR. BURGESS focused on the Alaska Department of Military and
Veterans' Affairs and its Department of Homeland Security. He
indicated that Alaska's Department of Homeland Security is small
in size and budget. However, an important part of it is the
State Emergency Coordination Center in Anchorage. Through the
commissioner of DMVA, the state has the ability to quickly reach
out to communities and individuals throughout the state.
Furthermore, a task force was created last fall under the
command of the commissioner of DMVA. Additionally, the Alaska
National Guard, which is controlled by the governor, is
available. He highlighted that the Alaska National Guard is the
only agency in the state with a significant ability to provide
transportation and respond to a natural disaster or terrorist
threat. He characterized the Alaska National Guard as a
critical component of the anti-terrorism efforts. Furthermore,
the Alaska National Guard has a role in the defense of the
Valdez Terminal. Mr. Burgess then turned to the Alaska State
Troopers, who are, in many instances, the first responders to
criminal and natural disasters throughout the state. He said
that the Alaska State Troopers are very good at their job,
although at times there aren't enough of them to respond.
11.40
MR. BURGESS informed the committee that in addition to ATTF
there are Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) at each of the 54
FBI field offices located throughout the country. He explained
that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is the department's
operational response to terrorism. Therefore, JTTF is composed
of investigators that are primarily from the FBI, but also from
other participating agencies. These are criminal investigators
who work at detecting, preventing, and investigating terrorist
threats. He pointed out that the FBI is the lead agency of the
JTTF. The FBI is composed of experts in terrorism and foreign
intelligence. The JTTF is the only task force with criminal
investigators. Mr. Burgess related his belief that Alaska was
the leading edge of this effort because the FBI in Alaska had
recognized the need for a joint terrorism task force before the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as illustrated by the
fact that the FBI in Alaska had put in an application for a
joint terrorism task force in Alaska. There were only about 25
JTTFs in the country prior to the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001. He specified that the JTTF in Alaska is staffed by
agents from the FBI, the U.S. Marshal's Service, Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, Alcohol Tobacco and
Firearms, Anchorage Police, and Alaska State Troopers. Alaska's
JTTF provides training and tactical exercises. Over the past
year there have been several important tactical exercises.
Alaska's JTTF works closely with the Alaska State Troopers in
collecting and disseminating criminal information to law
enforcement.
13.51
MR. BURGESS returned to the ATTF. The ATTF does the following:
coordinates the efforts of federal, state, and local law
enforcement to foster greater information sharing; looks to
develop initiatives to reduce and eliminate vulnerabilities
within the state; seeks to establish community awareness and
participation in conjunction with the JTTF; aggressively
prosecutes terrorists, potential terrorism, or hoaxes; and
provides help, training, and resources for anti-terrorist
efforts. With regard to community awareness, Mr. Burgess
recalled that shortly after the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, there were many incidences in which there were civil
and criminal attacks against members of the Arab and Islamic
communities. Therefore, he and Special Agent McClanahan have
tried to reach out to those communities and ensure them that the
JTTF is there to protect them from criminal misconduct directed
against them as well as seek their assistance. The response
from the Islamic community has been positive, he related. He
turned to the Alaskan Command and pointed out that there are
limitations on what the Alaskan Command and the military can do
because of the federal law, the Posse Comitatus Act.
17.20
LIEUTENANT GENERAL "HOWIE" CHANDLER, USAF Commander, Alaskan
Command, informed the committee that the first bullet on the
Alaskan Command slide, "Proactive intervention constrained by
the Posse Comitatus Act" is the reason why the Alaskan Command
isn't involved with the JTTF on the investigative side. The
Alaskan Command clearly understands where the lines are drawn
with regard to the Posse Comitatus Act. However, the Alaskan
Command through the Northern Command does bring some things to
the table with regard to intelligence collection. He explained
that Northern Command is the Department of Defense's (DoD) one-
stop shop for the lead federal agencies in the event of a
homeland security scenario. However, the Stafford Disaster
Relief And Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) provides any
commander the authority as well as the responsibility to respond
in order to prevent further damage or loss of life. Therefore,
Lieutenant General Chandler gave the committee his pledge that
the lines of the Posse Comitatus Act are understood as well as
the responsibility to respond when life, limb, and property are
in jeopardy.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER, in response to Co-Chair Wilken,
explained that the Posse Comitatus Act basically precludes
military forces from pursuing law enforcement activities.
MR. BURGESS specified that the military can provide technical
support and assistance. Mr. Burgess pointed out that DMVA can
provide support to law enforcement in some instances.
20.10
BRIGADIER GENERAL CRAIG CAMPBELL, Commissioner, Department of
Military and Veterans' Affairs, explained that the National
Guard is a state resource that works for the governor, although
the majority of the equipment is paid for by the federal
government. Therefore, on the surface the [the National Guard]
is under the same role as the active duty in that the
department's forces can be engaged to perform state work.
However, the governor has the right to declare the resources
necessary for state emergencies and thus at that point the
federal support can be converted to state use, which makes the
National Guard the first outreach for state emergency response.
REPRESENTATIVE DYSON related his understanding that Brigadier
General Campbell could provide logistic support to transport law
enforcement people if requested and if the assets were
available.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER agreed. He explained that typically
the lead federal agency would exhaust local and state ability to
provide logistic support and the request would be forwarded to
NORTHCOM.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL specified that he can't just call and
request transport. For example, in order to use [the National
Guard's] C-130 transports for state support he has to ask if it
would interfere with the private companies because the first
option should be a charter from the private sector. If there is
agreement that there is no conflict, then the aircraft can be
activated after advising the National Guard bureau that there is
no private sector capability and that it's a state emergency
requiring the use of a state resource. The state
responsibilities have to be protected, he said.
SENATOR DYSON related his assumption that the aforementioned can
be done at any time and that the process would take hours not
days.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL agreed.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER returned to the Stafford Act and
pointed out that if there is imminent danger or peril to people
and property, local commanders have the authority to ensure that
the support necessary to the community is provided.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL explained that the general rule is
that in the first 24 hours if there is an absolute need -- it's
a declared emergency and life and safety are in jeopardy. The
National Guard can respond in the first 24 hours and request for
forgiveness later. In the second 24 hours, the process of
contacting the private sector should start. By the third to
fourth day, the federal resource has to be withdrawn unless all
of the approvals to continue have been achieved.
22.52
SENATOR DYSON clarified that he was thinking of a small
operation in which the FBI, perhaps, needs to get somewhere and
the Alaska National Guard has the helicopter and the tanker. He
surmised that such transport could happen in hours rather than
days.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL said that the more agencies that are
involved, the more difficult it is to meet the challenge. He
pointed out that the Counter Drug Operation is within the
National Guard and it has helicopters assigned that can perform
refueling. Therefore, if the FBI needed support, the National
Guard would try to provide the support through one agency in
order to minimize the coordination requirements.
SENATOR DYSON inquired as to whether there has been any formal
agreement with the Canadians. He posed a situation in which the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had a mission, but were
very short on resources. He asked if the agreements and
relationships are already in place to support the RCMP.
CHAIR WILKEN said that question would be set aside until the end
of the presentation in order to stay focused on the slide before
the committee.
25.40
REAR ADMIRAL JAMES UNDERWOOD, U.S. Coast Guard, turned to the
Posse Comitatus Act and informed the committee that the U.S.
Coast Guard is a military service that has law enforcement
authority under Title 14. The U.S. Coast Guard operates under
Titles 10 and 14. Often, the U.S. Coast Guard has the ability
to work with DoD military counterparts in law enforcement
activities in which they are providing a platform for the U.S.
Coast Guard's law enforcement officers. "In those cases, it's a
narrow opportunity for them to provide robust presence to help
us do what we need to do," he said.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN inquired as to where the Civil Air Patrol
would fit into this.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER explained that the Civil Air Patrol
is tightly tied into the rescue coordination center at the
National Guard. He pointed out that the funding flow comes
through the U.S. Air Force down to the Civil Air Patrol. He
noted his comfort with the volunteer efforts and the way in
which the organizations are connected with regard to search and
rescue for the state. In further response to Representative
Lynn, Lieutenant General Chandler said that the Posse Comitatus
Act wouldn't have any impact on the Civil Air Patrol in its
search and rescue role. He related that to his knowledge the
Civil Air Patrol had never been used in a law enforcement
function.
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN recalled discussions regarding using the
Civil Air Patrol for the inspection of drugs at airports. He
inquired as to the transport of key people to certain locations
in order to assist in the process.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER surmised that would be feasible.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD interjected that the U.S. Coast Guard has
an agreement with the Civil Air Patrol to transport marine
safety officers to locations where sea marshals are set up.
There are also Coast Guard auxiliaries, who are trained
observers, to fly the routes of the cruise ships in order to see
the areas. Although the aforementioned isn't direct law
enforcement, they are operations in support of law enforcement,
which he believes is the type of operation to which
Representative Lynn spoke.
CHAIR WILKEN informed the committee that Lieutenant General
Chandler had provided a letter to him a week or so after the
first meeting of the Joint Armed Services Committee. However,
the letter wasn't distributed to the committee or the
legislature.
27.49
MR. BURGESS returned to the PowerPoint presentation and the
slide dealing with the newly formed U.S. Department of Homeland
Security. He pointed out that first and foremost the U.S. Coast
Guard participates in anti-terrorism efforts. The U.S. Coast
Guard has highly developed plans in place for the protection of
the Valdez terminal and its approaches. Furthermore, it has
taken great strides to protect the cruise ship trade in Alaska.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD assured the committee that the U.S. Coast
Guard has been working closely with the cruise ship industry as
well as law enforcement counterparts through exercises conducted
last winter. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
the U.S. Coast Guard has ensured that port security committees
are in place at each port and that there is a security plan for
each cruise ship that arrives. Furthermore, the U.S. Coast
Guard goes on board the cruise ships to make sure that they are
complying with the security plans. Random U.S. Coast Guard
cutter escorts are provided for cruise ships at various key
areas. The routes of the cruise ships are overseen and
transportation of the sea marshals is provided as well.
Additionally, there are security zones around the Alaska Marine
Highway System (AMHS) ferries on a blanket basis; the zone
prevents any small vessels from approaching the ferries within
1,000 yards. The same consideration has been given for cruise
ships, although it's a difficult proposition.
30.18
MR. BURGESS pointed out that part of the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security is the new Transportation Security
Administration (TSA). He explained that in Alaska there are
three separate regional security directors under TSA. There is
one in each of the following cities: Anchorage, Juneau, and
Fairbanks. Each of those report to the regional headquarters,
which he indicated will be moved to Seattle, Washington. Mr.
Burgess pointed out that the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security is in early stages of formation. He related his
understanding that it will be developed along the same regional
lines as reflected by the current organization of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If that is the case, the
regional headquarters will be run out of Seattle, Washington.
However, that hasn't been finalized, he noted. All TSA
directors are currently implementing the congressionally
mandated security measure on schedule.
MR. BURGESS turned to the slide entitled, "Threats to Alaska."
He specified that the list of threats to Alaska isn't an
exhaustive list nor are the items prioritized. The list merely
highlights some of the potential threats in Alaska. Mr. Burgess
assured the committee that this has been a topic of ongoing
discussion. He reviewed the list, which included the Trans-
Alaska Pipeline and the Valdez terminal as well as the aviation
transportation hub, the cruise ship industry, the oil and gas
platforms in Cook Inlet, facilities located on the Kenai
Peninsula, and the super-computer at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks. Mr. Burgess explained that after the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, the large cyanide shipments to
the Red Dog Mine were of concern because of the potential
threat.
33.17
MR. BURGESS turned to Alaska's challenges. He pointed out that
Alaska remains vulnerable in its fuel and water supply. There
are also communications issues in Alaska that are similar to
those that occurred in New York. Furthermore, the border with
Canada and the large amount of coastline in Alaska presents some
significant challenges, especially in light of the resources
available in Alaska. Furthermore, the ability to respond in a
timely fashion is an issue due to the challenges, such as
weather, with regard to access to communities.
MR. BURGESS turned to the slides entitled, "Needs to be
Addressed" and informed the committee that one goal is to work
smarter, which would include eliminating the redundancies among
federal, state, and local law enforcement. For instance, the
state's terrorism task force is going to be combined with ATTF
so that the duplication of effort is eliminated. He highlighted
the need to establish protocols for communication between the
command centers throughout the state. He also highlighted the
need to ensure an adequate level of Alaska State Troopers
because they are often the only law enforcement presence
throughout the state. Additionally, the Alaska State Defense
Force (ASDF) can help respond to homeland security efforts. Mr.
Burgess informed the committee that he has been working on the
timely dissemination of information to law enforcement as well
as political leadership.
37.39
SPECIAL AGENT TOM McCLANAHAN, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
responded to Representative Dyson's earlier question regarding
the FBI's ability to transport personnel in the event of an
attack. He informed the committee that the FBI is routinely
deployed overseas and the FBI relies heavily on the military for
"lift capacity." He noted that MOUs (memorandum of
understanding) are in place with the Pentagon. If there was a
major terrorist attack in Alaska, Special Agent McClanahan
assured the committee that the FBI personnel and equipment would
be transported per the MOU. Therefore, he didn't view transport
as a problem.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD highlighted that the next big threat is
the cruise ships arriving in Alaska. With regard to the efforts
in Valdez, Rear Admiral Underwood informed the committee that a
new cutter, the Long Island, will be permanently stationed in
Valdez upon her arrival, June 28, 2003.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL returned to the issue of merging the
state's task force and the ATTF. This merged organization will
be the first in the country.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER announced that Alaska Command and
the JTTF-Alaska looks forward to working with lead federal
agencies should it be necessary.
RANDY JOHNSON, U.S. Marshall for Alaska, highlighted the
cooperation between everyone and noted that it's the only way to
get things accomplished.
TED BACHMAN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Safety,
also highlighted the need for coordination of efforts.
41.17
SENATOR DYSON inquired, again, as to any exchange of information
or coordination with Canada.
MR. BURGESS answered that the department has worked closely with
the Canadians over the last several years.
SENATOR DYSON further asked if information is being shared with
Canada on a real-time basis.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD recalled from his former position in the
Department of Transportation that there is a 30-point plan that
the U.S. has with the Canadian government. The plan strives to
develop and mature the relationship between the two countries,
which includes intelligence sharing. Rear Admiral Underwood
specified that intelligence sharing is being done at the
national level not the local level. Also at the national level,
is the prevention of U.S. law enforcement personnel taking
weapons into Canadian waters and locations. The aforementioned
has been lifted and thus when the sea marshals ride the AMHS,
they are allowed to be armed.
SENATOR DYSON asked if anyone present today has spoken with a
Canadian counterpart in the last month.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER informed the committee that under
the North American Air Defense Command relationship, he has
deputies who are Canadian officers. Therefore, he related his
belief that there is a good relationship with Canada. He noted
that the aforementioned relationship has migrated to North COM
in that the Canadians have entered into discussions regarding
how the U.S. and Canada fit together in a military defense.
However, he cautioned that this relationship will take some
time. From the federal level, the intelligence sharing
continues. The ATTF provides an organization that can feed the
information if necessary.
44.52
SENATOR DYSON commented that he has been fairly confident that
the intelligence sharing has been in place for airborne threats.
However, he expressed concern with regard to the terrestrial
threats. He related that he has been told that between the U.S.
Coast Guard and the RCMP and District 13 and 17 that the
intelligence information is flowing back and forth seamlessly
without having to go to Washington, D.C., or Ottawa before going
to Canada.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD answered that the U.S. Coast Guard works
with its Canadian counterparts and the 13th district on a
regular basis. The flow of information is working well for
local events.
MR. BACHMAN added that the local civil law enforcement level
works on a daily basis with the RCMP, both operationally and
through the intelligence office that shares information with the
FBI agent in Anchorage.
MR. McCLANAHAN confirmed that he speaks with the RCMP folks
often. Furthermore, there are FBI personnel stationed in Ottawa
and Vancouver who work directly with the RCMP and its
intelligence counterpart. The state law enforcement
intelligence center also shares actual databases with the RCMP.
Therefore, there is a lot of exchange going on.
TAPE 03-2, SIDE B
SENATOR DYSON asked if there is an agreement in which the U.S.
Coast Guard's swat team could work in District 17 if need be.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD explained that Senator Dyson is referring
to Rear Admiral Brown, 13th District Commander, and the Maritime
Safety and Security Team (MSST), which was recently established
in Puget Sound, Washington. The establishment of the first four
MSSTs were in ports considered so strategic that the nature of
the MSST wouldn't be deployable. Rear Admiral Underwood said
that he didn't have the agreement in place with Rear Admiral
Brown. However, he said he has talked with his boss as well as
Rear Admiral Brown's boss and has been assured that [the swat
team] wouldn't be available because it would be in Seattle,
Washington, where it's needed even more. However, he noted he
has had conversations with Admiral Collins and Congress with
regard to the need for a MSST in Alaska, although that isn't in
the budget for 2004.
SENATOR DYSON said to let him know if a resolution from the
Alaska State Legislature in support of a MSST in Alaska would
help. Senator Dyson expressed concern that most maritime
security is centered at ports, which gives the impression that
once the vessels are untied no one is paying attention to their
security. However, from the testimony today he understands that
there is concern with regard to the security of vessels not
located at a port.
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE returned to the issue of the threats
Alaska faces and asked if Alaska faces a threat with regard to
it being the world's largest float plane base.
MR. BURGESS reiterated that the list of threats to Alaska was
merely a sampling of concerns. He indicated that Alaska's float
plane base is of concern and analyzing the potential threats is
an ongoing process.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER related that determining what
threats are more important is problematic. Typically, the
matter returns to the ability to share information and determine
if there is a threat and if so, where the resources should be
placed. He mentioned that there could be a scenario in which
there aren't enough resources to go around. Therefore, he
characterized Alaska's large float plane base as one of the many
possible threats to Alaska.
43.05
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL noted that they are trying to
prioritize and find solutions. He pointed out that the pipeline
became one of the highest priorities for the State of Alaska,
and therefore the department is in the process of developing a
specific operations plan regarding how to protect specific
critical nodes of the pipeline. The same will follow for the
railway, aviation assets, and other critical assets if the need
arises.
42.07
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM returned to the issue of ferries and
cruise ships as potential threats. She requested that someone
expound on that and discuss the level of risk they may be.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD explained that the risk to cruise ships
and passenger ferries is reviewed on two levels. The numbers of
people on the high capacity passenger vessels is reviewed as is
the impact to the tourism industry and the cost to the American
industry. Those two factors and the willingness on the part of
terrorists to create an impact on the U.S. economy while taking
as many lives as possible is viewed as a relatively high threat
that should be secured.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM asked if the increasing pleasure craft
use is seen as a problem. She also inquired as to how vessels
from other countries are treated.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD answered that the increased pleasure
craft traffic doesn't represent a significant concern at this
time. There is sufficient ability to gather intelligence in the
ports from which most recreational craft are operating in
Alaska. With regard to foreign recreational vessels in Alaska,
he pointed out that these must check in when entering Alaska and
each is evaluated.
39.28
CO-CHAIR HARRIS inquired as to how one balances the public use
of Alaska's facilities versus the public safety aspect, which he
indicated was probably the highest difficulty.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHANDLER said that the Posse Comitatus Act
allows the military to do its job.
CO-CHAIR HARRIS surmised that the public input probably has to
be weighed when developing regulations.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD turned to the blanket security zone
around cruise ships and the impact that would have on other
activities in the same area. He agreed that there is a balance.
"It's not security for the sake of security and everything else
has to stop," he said. He indicated that the aforementioned is
taken seriously while trying to find the most cooperative means
to continue commerce and ensure safety.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CAMPBELL, speaking on the state's perspective,
agreed that it's a difficult challenge. He noted that shortly
the legislature will have before it some statutory changes that
the ATTF recommends. Therefore, he asked that when the
aforementioned occurs that the legislators balance individual
civil liberties with what's necessary to have a safe state.
MR. BURGESS agreed that it's a balance that everyone's trying to
keep in mind; trying to be as least intrusive as possible while
having an acceptable amount of security. For example, screening
at airports to make them safer while not going to extremes.
35.43
REPRESENTATIVE HEINZE posed a situation in which a passenger on
board a ship had Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and
infected everyone. She asked if ATTF would move forward as in a
terrorism attack.
MR. McCLANAHAN surmised that state health authorities would come
into play rather than the military or law enforcement. He
characterized a SARS outbreak as a health issue rather than a
terrorist-related threat.
REAR ADMIRAL UNDERWOOD clarified that such a situation would
probably involve the state and federal Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). He noted that exercises have been conducted that
would include such a scenario. In such a scenario, the vessel
is quarantined and not allowed in the port and the passengers
are treated on board the vessel.
34.40
CO-CHAIR WILKEN thanked everyone for participating in today's
presentation. He related his observation that Americans sleep
better today because of those who have the courage to serve the
Commander in Chief to make America a better place. He closed by
thanking everyone for their service.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the Joint
Armed Services Committee meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
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