05/02/1995 03:36 PM Senate STA

 SSTA - 5/2/95                                                                 
                                                                               
         SR   3 CONVERSION OF ADAK NAVAL AIR FACILITY                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR SHARP brings up SR 3 as the next order of business before             
 the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness.               
                                                                               
 Number 383                                                                    
                                                                               
 SHERMAN ERNOUF, Aide to Senator Kelly, prime sponsor of SR 3,                 
 informs the committee that SR 3 would encourage the federal                   
 government to allow the facilities at Adak to be used for the long-           
 term benefits of the state and for the benefit of the people in the           
 Western Aleutians.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 397                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asked if SR 3 would preclude using the facilities at            
 Adak for a correctional facility.                                             
                                                                               
 MR. ERNOUF responds that has been one of the possible uses                    
 discussed for the facilities.  The concern is that the buildings              
 may be jeopardized during the closure process if they are not                 
 maintained.                                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 407                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asks if the process includes provisions for                     
 maintaining the property.                                                     
                                                                               
 MR. ERNOUF responds it does.  The Aleut Corporation is over-signed            
 on the land, so if the federal government decides not to use it,              
 they will come into ownership of it.  Until that time, we are                 
 asking the federal government and the Department of Defense to take           
 care of the buildings.                                                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR LEMAN asks if there will be a time, because of Adak's                 
 strategic location, that the base would ever have to be                       
 reactivated.                                                                  
                                                                               
 MR. ERNOUF replies he cannot answer that question.  He assumes that           
 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission would take strategic              
 importance into consideration.  But he does not know what                     
 arrangements they make for the possibility of reopening a site.               
                                                                               
 Number 422                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to discharge SR 3 from the              
 Senate State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.               
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders SR 3 released from               
 committee with individual recommendations.