Alaska State Legislature JOINT ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE  September 28, 2000 1:30 p.m. SENATE MEMBERS PRESENT  Senator Tim Kelly, Co-Chair Senator Drue Pearce Senator Gary Wilken Senator Pete Kelly Senator Loren Leman HOUSE MEMBERS PRESENT  Representative Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair Representative Lisa Murkowski Representative Gene Therriault Representative John Harris PUBLIC MEMBERS PRESENT  Jake Lestenkof Dean Owen George Vakalis Alan Walker Chick Wallace OTHERS PRESENT  Representative Jeannette James Representative John Coghill Janice Nielson, U.S Army Pacific Legislative Liaison Lance Herrington, U.S. Army Alaska Dennis DeWitt, Legislative Staff Kara Moriarty. Legislative Staff Danielle Serino, Legislative Staff Kris Knauss, Legislative Staff Chris Nelson, Staff Director, JASC ACTION NARRATIVE  CO-CHAIR TIM KELLY called the Joint Armed Services Committee (JASC) to order at 1:55 p.m. at Miners Hall, the River's Edge Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska. He asked JASC Staff Director Chris Nelson to call the roll. Committee members present were Co- Chairs Tim Kelly and Eldon Mulder, Senator Drue Pearce, Senator Gary Wilken, Senator Pete Kelly, Senator Loren Leman, Representative Lisa Murkowski, Representative Gene Therriault, Representative John Harris, Jake Lestenkof George Vakalis, Dean Owen, Alan Walker, and Chick Wallace. CO-CHAIR KELLY declared that a quorum was present and noted that also in attendance were Representatives Jeannette James and John Coghill; Janice Nielsen, U.S. Army Pacific Legislative Liaison; Lance Herrington, U.S. Army, Alaska; and Legislative Staff Members Dennis DeWitt, Kara Moriarty, Danielle Serino, and Kris Knauss. SENATOR LOREN LEMAN moved to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2000 meeting. There being no objection, the minutes were approved. CO-CHAIR ELDON MULDER explained that this quarterly meeting of the JASC was being held in Fairbanks to focus on the activities of U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) and stated that Major General James Lovelace, the new USARAK Commanding General, would personally brief the JASC on Army Transition immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. He also noted that a tour of Fort Wainwright and demonstration of Army training would be held tomorrow, September 29, for JASC members and legislative staff. CO-CHAIR KELLY asked Mr. Nelson to report on the committee's activities since the last meeting. CHRIS NELSON stated that JASC members had participated in two national conferences on military issues affecting Alaska during the summer. MR. NELSON reported that he and DEAN OWEN had represented the JASC at the Missile Defense Symposium sponsored by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) in Long Beach, California, on June 8-9, 2000. He noted that Major General Philip Oates, The Adjutant General of Alaska, and Colonel Scott Marcy, Regular Army Advisor to the Alaska Army National Guard, also attended the meeting. He stated that panel presentations focused on the requirement for all the Armed Services to develop defenses against the proliferation of tactical and strategic ballistic missiles and emphasized the importance of a National Missile Defense system anchored by ground-based interceptors in Alaska. Mr. Nelson noted that Alaskans took advantage of the opportunity to speak directly with the ranking leaders of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) on Alaska issues. They learned that Fort Greely is the preferred site for the ground based interceptors and that USASMDC is interested in acquiring the Fort Greely cantonment area and the adjacent proposed interceptor site to operate as a National Missile Defense installation. That command had no desire, however, to take over the entire Fort Greely range complex. MR. NELSON said that SENATOR TIM KELLY, REPRESENTATIVE MULDER, REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI, MR. LESTENKOF, MR. VAKALIS, MR. WALKER, and MR. DEWITT had joined him in attending the annual conference of the National Association of Installation Developers (NAID) in Monterey, California, from August 5-8, 2000. He explained that NAID focused on reuse issues and brought together community officials from areas which bad undergone military base closures and developers interested in reusing those facilities. NAID is also increasing its emphasis on the privatization of installation operations on active military bases. He noted the focus of the Monterey meeting was on the reuse of Fort Ord, which bad been closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) in 1991. Mr. Nelson stated that an interesting feature of Fort Ord's conversion to civilian use was the establishment of three separate Local Reuse Authorities (LRAs) to manage different areas of the transition. The Department of Defense gave both the University of California (UC), which established a research facility, and the California State University (CSU), which established a residential undergraduate campus, LEA status. The Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA), consisting of the city and county governments adjacent to the base serve as the LRA for the remaining property. MR. NELSON suggested that members of the JASC participate in two upcoming meetings sponsored by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). He said that the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 14-18 would focus on Army Transition and major land power issues as well as missile defense. He stated that AUSA's Space and Missile Defense Symposium in El Paso, Texas on December 5-7 would be especially important for Alaskans. Mr. Nelson noted that materials on these meetings had been placed in members' agenda packages. CO-CHAIR KELLY asked that JASC members interested in attending those conferences contact Mr. Nelson. He then asked Mr. Nelson to update the committee on Alaska military issues. MR. NELSON said that since the committee's last meeting, there had been major developments in National Missile Defense and the reuse of the two Alaska bases impacted by 1995 BRAC actions. He explained that President Clinton had announced on September 1 that he would postpone the deployment decision on National Missile Defense to allow for further tests of the system and enable his successor to make the decision. Mr. Nelson observed that this delay was not unexpected because the last two tests had suffered mishaps and failed to achieve intercepts. He noted that the Secretary of Defense had recommended that the system be deployed and that construction be authorized for the X-Band radar site on Shemya and the ground-based interceptor site at Fort Greely. Construction at these two sites will now not begin until authorized by the new President. MR. NELSON related that he had held conversations with both military and missile industry officials who expressed confidence that the new President, regardless of who wins the election in November, would move forward with a National Missile Defense system centered around ground-based interceptors in Alaska. He also invited members to review a letter in their agenda packages from Mr. Mead Treadwell, Managing Director of the Institute of the North, which analyzed NMD developments and outlined options for both Alaskan and national decision makers. MR. NELSON stated that progress toward civilian reuse was being made at both Fort Greely and Adak. He noted that the land transfer agreement between the Department of the Interior and the Aleut Corporation had been completed. The Adak Reuse Corporation, which serves as the LRA for Adak, has received a $3 million grant to fund its operations and is preparing to take over operations of the base. It is awaiting a decision from the state's Local Boundary Commission on its application to incorporate the island as a Second Class City and is also seeking approval from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska on several of its proposals to facilitate economic development at the former Naval Air Facility. The LRA is currently negotiating with a fish processing company and a fiber optic company to locate their activities on Adak and the Air Force is installing improvements at Adak's airfield to continue its use as an emergency diversion site in the North Pacific. MR. NELSON asked REPRESENTATIVE JOHN HARRIS to update the committee on reuse activities at Fort Greely. REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS reported that the City of Delta, the LRA for Fort Greely, had been granted an extension of the deadline to submit its application for an Economic Development Conveyance (EDC). The city can now proceed with the application process while awaiting a decision on deployment of the NMD system. CO-CHAIR KELLY thanked Mr. Nelson and Representative Harris for their reports and noted that at its last meeting, the committee members had been invited to propose appointments to its Citizens Advisory Board at this meeting. He recommended the appointment of the following individuals: -Mitch Abood, retired Commanding General of the State Defense Force -Mead Treadwell, Managing Director, Institute of the North -Lance Herrington, former BRAC Coordinator, USARAK -Chris Gates, Project Manager, Adak Reuse Corporation CO-CHAIR KELLY noted that JOHN HOYT had proposed three individuals for membership on the Citizens Advisory Board and recommended their appointment. They are: -Tom Morgan, Executive Director, Anchorage Armed Services YMCA -Dennis Metrokin, President, Koniag Corporation -Colonel (RET) Roger T. Schnell CO-CHAIR KELLY moved that the appointment of these individuals be approved. CO-CHAIR MULDER seconded. The appointments were approved unanimously. CO-CHAIR KELLY explained that Mr. Hoyt was absent due to severe illness and asked MR. JAKE LESTENKOF to updated the committee on his condition. MR. LESTENKOF said that Mr. Hoyt has been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage for over three weeks and had been near death twice. He fell ill with a condition that causes muscles to involuntarily contract following his return from a visit with his brother in Africa. CO-CHAIR MULDER expressed the committee's concern at Mr. Hoyt's condition and noted his effective work as one of its civilian members. He then asked if the members had new business to come before the committee. CO-CHAIR KELLY stated that be had heard that a contract for private housing at Elmendorf Air Force Base had been cancelled and asked Mr. Nelson to comment. MR NELSON replied that be had been told by Alaska Command (ALCOM) that the contract had not yet been awarded and that contractor proposals were still under evaluation. CO-CHAIR MULDER asked Mr. Dewitt to update the committee on the progress on accommodating the Army's request to use oil fog in training exercises in the state. DENNIS DEWITT explained that the Army and the Department of Environmental Conservation were working together to develop a permit process which would outline the conditions under which the Army could incorporate the use of oil fog into its exercises. He also noted that Senator Leman's staff had been working with the Army and the Department of Law to clarify the state's role in this issue. CO-CHAIR KELLY noted that ALCOM had recently undergone a change of command. REPRESENTATIVE LISA MURKOWSKI explained that Lieutenant General Tom Case had left Alaska to assume the position of Deputy Commander in Chief, Pacific Command, at Camp Smith, Hawaii. His replacement as ALCOM's Commanding General is Lieutenant General Norman Schwartz who comes to Alaska after serving as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command. She observed that General Case's new assignment places him in a perfect position to advocate Alaska as a power projection and training location for the military and that General Schwartz, one of the Air Force's youngest three star generals, is recognized as a top future leader. CO-CHAIR MULDER proposed three more individuals for membership on the Civilian Advisory Board and moved their appointment. They are: -Craig Johnson -Dave Lewis -John Nicely CO-CHAIR KELLY seconded the motion. The committee approved it unanimously. CO-CHAIR MULDER asked if there was a limit on the number of appointments committee members could make to the Civilian Advisory Board and if a package of information on their responsibilities was being prepared. Mr. Nelson replied that members could make unlimited appointments and that a package was being prepared. DEAN OWEN moved the appointment of the following individuals to the Citizens Advisory Board: -Mike Ferguson -Mike Olson -Buzz Ohs -Lt. Gen (Ret) Dave Dean -Gerald Myers -Gordy Lewis -Karen Washburn SENATOR WILKEN seconded the motion. The committee approved the appointments unanimously. REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said that Major General Phil Oates, the Adjutant General of Alaska, will brief Lieutenant General Schwartz, the new ALCOM Commander, today and will invite him to come to Juneau early in the legislative session next year. She suggested that the committee send him a letter inviting him to visit Juneau while the Legislature is in session. ALAN WALKER reported on the village outreach program conducted by service officers from the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans. The service officer program is funded by a grant through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and works to reach veterans who are in need and help them enter assistance programs for which they are qualified. Service officers inform veterans of available programs, help them verify their eligibility, and assist them in accessing the appropriate programs. He shared a success story of a veteran from Haines who changed his life as a result of this program. SENATOR LEMAN said that the committee should recognize the important role the Coast Guard is playing in fisheries management. He noted that a Coast Guard C-130 recently caught a Russian trawler illegally fishing in American waters. CHICK WALLACE agreed with Senator Leman and stated that the work of the Coast Guard in Alaska is too often taken for granted and that Alaskans don't recognize that service's contributions enough. CO-CHAIR MULDER stated that the Pacific Fisheries Task Force intended to send a letter supporting the Coast Guard's budget request. He stated that the JASC should send a similar letter of support. MR. WALLACE reported on the rescue missions flown throughout Interior Alaska by Army aviation units at Fort Wainwright. CO-CHAIR MULDER said that he had met with Tom Morgan, Manager of the Armed Forces YMCA and coordinator of the annual Salute to the Military gala in Anchorage. Admiral Blair, Commander-in- Chief, United States Pacific Command, will be the speaker at this year's event. He proposed that the committee schedule a meeting in conjunction with Admiral Blair's visit. CO-CHAIR KELLY clarified that the term of office for members of the Citizens Advisory Committee will be three years. He also drew the attention of committee members to a letter in their packages from Paul Fuhs outlining the progress of the Anchorage Defense Logistics Initiative. REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI stated that the ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in Alaska would have an adverse impact on recruiting for both active component military and the National Guard. She noted that service members would still be required to undergo mandatory drug testing. MR. WALLACE explained that Major General and Mrs. Lovelace would be welcomed to Fairbanks at a reception in their honor at the home of Pam Younker, President of the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, following the committee meeting. He invited members of the committee and staff to attend the reception. CO-CHAIR KELLY recessed the meeting until 3:00 p.m. to allow Major General Lovelace and his staff to set up the equipment required for his briefing. CO-CHAIR KELLY reconvened the meeting at 3:00 p.m. and introduced Major General James Lovelace, Jr., Commanding General, United States Army Alaska who then briefed the committee on Army Transition and answered questions. CO-CHAIR KELLY adjourned the meeting at 4:16 p.m.