HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WORLD TRADE AND STATE/FEDERAL RELATIONS February 9, 1999 5:07 p.m. COMMITTEE CALENDAR PRESENTATION: BRIEFING ON THE ALEUT CORPORATION'S EFFORTS TO COMMERCIALIZE FACILITIES ON ADAK TAPE(S) 99-01, SIDE(S) A & B CALL TO ORDER CHAIR RAMONA BARNES called the House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. Members present at the call to order were Representatives Barnes, Cowdery, Phillips, Berkowitz and Joule. Representatives Masek and Green arrived at 5:14 p.m. Also present was Representative Moses. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION CHRISTOPHER GATES, Executive Director, Adak Reuse Corporation, came forward to brief the committee on the latest developments in Adak. He outlined four commercial focus areas: the port, the airport, the fuel farm, and potential ocean research/Coast Guard station. He addressed challenges involving oil spill clean-up, unexploded ordinances, asbestos removal and demolition of abandoned buildings. He emphasized the benefits of utilizing the airport as a strategic location and detailed the costs involved. KJETIL SOLBERG, Owner, Adak Seafood LLC, described the goals of his company in the processing and international marketing of cod from the waters around Adak beginning the end of February 1999. DAVID JENSEN, Vice President, Reeve Aleutian Airways, stressed the importance of using Adak as an emergency alternate airport, and detailed reasons why both its size and location are of utmost value. KRIS LETHIN, Vice President, Aleut Enterprises Corporation, addressed measures their corporation has taken to ensure indemnification from the federal government in liability issues. He stressed the corporation's desire to make Adak a community, as opposed to a "company town," and outlined ways that bypass mail could assist in recruiting the types of business needed for community growth. COMMITTEE ACTION The committee took no action. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the House Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations meeting was adjourned by Chair Barnes at 6:05 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 130 Seward Street, Suite 211, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.