Legislature(1999 - 2000)
02/08/2000 04:37 PM House WTR
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
JOINT MEETING
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WORLD TRADE
AND STATE/FEDERAL RELATIONS
February 8, 2000
4:37 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE BRIEFING
TAPE(S)
00-3, SIDE(S) A & B [HOUSE MLV TAPE NUMBER]
CALL TO ORDER
Madame Chairs Lisa Murkowski, Gail Phillips and Ramona Barnes
convened the joint meeting of the House Special Committees on
Military and Veterans' Affairs, Economic Development and Tourism,
and World Trade and State/Federal Relations at 4:37 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present at the call to order were
Representatives Murkowski, Phillips, Barnes, Porter, Cowdery,
Berkowitz, Green, Cissna and Kott. Another member in attendance
was Representative Harris. Representative Masek arrived at 5:10
p.m.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
CHAIR LISA MURKOWSKI introduced Brigadier General Phil Oates as
Commander of the Armed Forces and Army National Guard in Alaska,
and his topic - the "National Missile Defense."
GENERAL PHIL OATES began his presentation by asking the question,
"Why Alaska?" He answered by stating, "Location, location,
location!" He further commented, from an engineering
perspective, this is the only place to construct such a facility
- he has already hired people to facilitate its emplacement. By
2005-2007, the missile defense site will already be in place,
which will provide about 309 jobs. Construction costs will be
around $882 million. The site will include a very high-powered
radar to detect incoming missile threats. He explained that the
technology uses a rocket without a warhead and kills the incoming
threat with a direct impact. In tracking the incoming missile, a
zip code technology is used with a system of variable strength
tracking devices. He cited that missile-to-missile closure speed
is 30,000 miles per hour, while two bullets fired at each other
have a closure speed of 4,000 miles per hour.
GENERAL OATES continued to describe the program as containing a
space-based infrared sensor that will pickup the initial launch.
Currently, there is no deterrent or defense against an ICBM
[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile] attack, except retaliation.
GENERAL OATES updated the committee on the last missile defense
test and stated that it was very successful, even though it did
not hit the target. There will be one more test and if it is
successful there is a great chance for deployment in 2005.
General Oates further stated, within the strategic arms reduction
systems and treaties, he thinks that Congress is saying the U.S.
will not let other countries dictate how to defend itself.
REPRESENTATIVE ETHAN BERKOWITZ asked General Oates for
amplification on the contents and arguments of the Strategic
Missile Treaty with the U.S.S.R.
GENERAL OATES replied, from the President's standpoint, the
country is still honoring that treaty, which gives the U.S. and
the U.S.S.R. each one national missile defense site. The problem
with that is North Dakota, as previously identified, is not the
ideal place for a missile defense site now. He pointed out that
ratification of the treaty has not gone back to Congress.
GENERAL OATES directed the committee to the heart of the
briefing, "What does this all mean to Alaska?" He noted that it
will be a significant diversification to the state's economy
because of its geographic location, cargo facilities, and fiber
optic hub. The intention is not to build a military facility,
but to work with the legislative committees and educational
facilities to develop partnerships.
GENERAL OATES talked in more detail about the opportunities to
utilize Alaskan goods and services. He cited the Alaska
Aerospace Development Corporation [AADC], the Poker Flat Research
Range, a logistics program including air cargo and the
university, a satellite command and control center, the North
American Aerospace Defense Command [NORAD], the Science &
Technology Foundation [ASTF], the Department of Community &
Economic Development [DCED], the processing of space surveillance
data in state, and employing University of Alaska-Fairbanks'
super computer for modeling as examples. He further mentioned
that several trades and skills will be required. He cited
security, custodial, administrative, and some very high-tech
trades as examples. The legislature has been proactive in this
issue since it has come to its attention. This program can give
great momentum to the economic development of the state but - of
course - the economy will still have to be resource-based.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN asked General Oates how the system
disassociates "space junk" from actual missiles.
GENERAL OATES replied it is very complicated, but there have been
significant tests related to this problem.
REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK asked General Oates what would
happen in the case of a mass attack.
GENERAL OATES replied mutual destruction would be assured, as the
only response would be retaliation.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked General Oates to elaborate on the
Ground Based Interceptors [GBI].
GENERAL OATES replied the current EIS [Environmental Impact
Study] has been upgraded to a C-2 capability, which will maintain
about 100 missiles in the state.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked General Oates whether there are
any competing technologies.
GENERAL OATES replied, yes, there are many spaced-based,
infrared, and sea-based programs. The future will be based on
several types of these systems.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked General Oates how soon will the long-
range threats increase to the U.S.?
GENERAL OATES replied more rogue states will gain the technology
and possibly strike at the U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK referred to Saddam [Hussein] and wondered
about the threats of biochemical weapons.
GENERAL OATES replied the U.S. really doesn't know who has that
type of capability.
CHAIR RAMONA BARNES asked General Oates what would happen if a
rogue nation was to fire a missile with biochemical weapons.
GENERAL OATES replied those weapons would be totally destroyed in
the atmosphere.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI stated she is interested in finding out whether a
missile defense system in Alaska would increase its likelihood of
being a target.
GENERAL OATES replied he would always argue for a strong defense.
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked General Oates to share with the
committee members his thought on the large amount of dangers "out
there."
GENERAL OATES replied "we" saw the end of the Cold War, but the
world is more unipolar and has a lot more dangerous hot spots
now.
CHAIR MURKOWSKI thanked the General for an excellent
presentation.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIR MURKOWSKI adjourned the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting at 5:26 p.m.
CHAIR PHILLIPS adjourned the House Special Committee on Economic
Development and Tourism meeting at 5:26 p.m.
CHAIR BARNES adjourned the House Special Committee on World Trade
and State/Federal Relations meeting at 5:26 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 129 6th Street, Suite 229, Juneau,
Alaska 99801, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the
second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature this
information may be obtained by contacting the Legislative
Reference Library at 129 6th Street, Suite 102, Juneau, Alaska
99801, (907) 465-3808.
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