01/22/2002 04:06 PM House MLV

                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
            HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND                                                                           
                       VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                                      
                        January 22, 2002                                                                                        
                           4:06 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONTINUATION  OF   OVERVIEW:    MAJOR  GENERAL   OATES,  ADJUTANT                                                               
GENERAL, TERRORISM DISASTER POLICY  CABINET REPORT, DEPARTMENT OF                                                               
TRANSPORTATION/SECURITY,  CONSEQUENCE  MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT  OF                                                               
LAW                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
TAPES                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
02-5, SIDE(S) A & B                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MIKE CHENAULT,  Chair, called  the House  Special                                                               
Committee on Military  and Veterans' Affairs meeting  to order at                                                               
4:06 p.m.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
Committee members  present were Representatives  Chenault, Green,                                                               
Murkowski, Kott, Cissna, and Hayes.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
JAY LIVEY, Commissioner, Department  Of Health & Social Services,                                                               
spoke  about the  subcommittee  report  regarding the  Governor's                                                               
Terrorism  Disaster Policy  Cabinet Report.   He  highlighted the                                                               
belief that there is a  proven capability to deliver bioterrorism                                                               
and  nuclear attacks  (against Alaska).   Stated  objectives from                                                               
the  group  were  1)  coordinated response  from  all  levels  of                                                               
government,  2) training  provided to  local first  responders 3)                                                               
procurement of  needed equipment, and 4)  opportunity to practice                                                               
responses.  He also discussed a list of other recommendations.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MIKE CONWAY,  Director, Division of Spill  Prevention & Response,                                                               
Department  of  Environmental Conservation,  discussed  statewide                                                               
emergency-response   capabilities  from   major  areas   such  as                                                               
Anchorage and Fairbanks.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
WAYNE RUSH, Homeland Security  Coordinator, Division of Emergency                                                               
Services,   Department  of   Military   and  Veterans'   Affairs,                                                               
addressed  "consequence management"  and emergency  preparedness,                                                               
as well as  the threat of weapons of mass  destruction (WMD).  He                                                               
discussed working  with the federal Office  of Homeland Security,                                                               
the Federal  Emergency Management  Agency (FEMA),  the Department                                                               
of Defense  (DOD), the Department  of Justice (DOJ),  the Federal                                                               
Aviation  Administration (FAA),  the  United  States Coast  Guard                                                               
(USCG),  the  Federal  Bureau of  Investigation  (FBI),  and  the                                                               
Alaskan Command.   Mr.  Rush stated the  need to  include working                                                               
with the private sector and  with telecommunications systems.  He                                                               
also said  he would like  to see  an office of  homeland security                                                               
and defense  for the  State of Alaska  that mirrors  the [federal                                                               
Office of Homeland Security].   The committee has been looking at                                                               
other state models, including Kansas, he noted.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
BOYD    BROWNFIELD,    Deputy   Commissioner,    Department    of                                                               
Transportation  &  Public  Facilities (DOT&PF),  spoke  primarily                                                               
about the new  FAA requirements in aviation  and mandated changes                                                               
in  airport security  procedures  since the  September 11,  2001,                                                               
terrorist attacks.   He  noted that  he was  able to  negotiate a                                                               
waiver for a 300-foot setback  for rural airports that would have                                                               
cost the  state $15  million.   He also  noted that  some federal                                                               
funds may be available.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
GARY  HAYDEN,  Director,  Construction,  M&O,  Southeast  Region,                                                               
Department  of  Transportation  &  Public  Facilities,  discussed                                                               
looking at  surface, aviation, and marine  security issues across                                                               
the state.  He addressed looking  at the mandated changes for the                                                               
Anchorage International  Airport while  DOT&PF is in  the process                                                               
of reconfiguration.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
[Mike  Mitchell  of  the  Department of  Law  was  available  via                                                               
teleconference  to answer  questions  from legislators  regarding                                                               
his department; however, no questions were asked of him.]                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                              
There were no  announcements other than a reminder  that the next                                                               
meeting for the  House Special Committee on  Military & Veterans'                                                               
Affairs would be January 29, 2002.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
The committee took no action.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR CHENAULT adjourned the House  Special Committee on Military                                                               
and Veterans' Affairs meeting at 5:35 p.m.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
NOTE:   The meeting was  recorded and handwritten log  notes were                                                               
taken.  A  copy of the tape(s)  and log notes may  be obtained by                                                               
contacting the  House Records  Office at  State Capitol,  Room 3,                                                               
Juneau,  Alaska   99801 (mailing  address),  (907) 465-2214,  and                                                               
after  adjournment of  the second  session  of the  Twenty-Second                                                               
Alaska  State Legislature  this  information may  be obtained  by                                                               
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.