tection Agency; Dr. Robert T. Watson, Chief, Upper Atmosphere Research Program, NASA; Dr. Adrian Tuck, Aeronomy Lab, NOAA; Dr. Robert Corell, Assistant Director for Geosciences, NSF, who was accompanied by Dr. Peter E. Wilkniss, Director, Polar Programs, NSF. Focus of the Hearing The hearing reviewed the scientific results of the 1987 expedition, examined inter-agency and international roles in cooperative efforts, reviewed tentative conclusions reached on the causes of global and Antarctic ozone depletion, and discussed ways in which new information can be factored into existing international protocols and policies. Committee Publication Number 100-77. 3.1(k)-The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) The Committee conducted three days of hearings during April, 1987, to address the scientific benefits and implications for other scientific activities, of the Administration's proposal for the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), a projected $6 billion, major, new scientific initiative in particle physics, that had been announced in February, 1987. The SSC project will require construction of a 52-mile racetracklike tunnel housing nearly 10,000 superconducting magnets to accelerate and focus two beams of protons. These beams will collide with each other at energies of 10 trillion electron volts each from opposite directions. The beam collisions at various locations along the racetrack are expected to produce new particles and new knowledge about the fundamental nature of matter. Testimony was received from witnesses representing the general science community as well as high energy physicists; the international scientific community; foreign and domestic high technology industries; Members of Congress; and State governments. Committee Publication Number 100-80. 3.1(1)-U.S.-Poland Joint Commission on Science and Technology On June 30, 1988, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met with a seven-person Polish delegation, including four Commissioners from the U.S./Polish Joint Commission on Science and Technology, to discuss implementation of the U.S./Polish Science and Technology agreement signed in September 1987. The focus of the meeting was on both the overall U.S./Polish Science and Technology relationship and funding levels for the agreement. The agreement, signed by Vice President Bush in September 1987, renews a previous relationship with Poland which was allowed to expire in 1981 following imposition of martial law and outlawing of the Solidarity movement. The new agreement provides for the establishment of a Joint Commission for the purposes of planning, coordinating, facilitating, and reviewing science and technology cooperation and its financing. Cooperative projects under the agreement will likely focus on medical sciences, basic research, engineering, agriculture, coal research, transportation, and the environment. The agreement contains extensive language on protection of intellectual property rights. The agreement calls for equal funding from both sides. The Congress recently concluded its deliberations on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1989 (Public Law 100-459), and the Report language indicates the Administration may seek funding for the Poland program through reprogramming procedures. 3.1(m)-Meeting With Italian Senate Committee on Industry, Commerce, and Tourism On September 14, 1988, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met with members of the Committee on Industry, Commerce, and Tourism of the Senate of the Republic of Italy as part of the delegation's fact-finding mission to examine advanced industrial technologies, joint ventures for research and development, and the use of venture capital for emerging technologies in industry. Discussions centered on enhancing Italy's role in the U.S. Superconducting Super Collider Project, the critical relationship of technology to economic growth, the status of research on commercial applications for renewable energy and other alternate energy sources, and the impact of Public Law 100-418, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act. 3.1(n)-Meeting With Italian Chamber of Deputies Committee on Environment, Interior, and Public Works On September 22, 1988, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met with members of the Committee on Environment, Interior, and Public Works of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Italy. The delegation of 13 members visited the U.S. to study environmental protection and management programs. Discussions focused on municipal waste disposal and recycling, ocean and ground water pollution, global climate change, acid rain, and hydrographic basin management. The United States and Italy share a number of concerns and problems related to water resource contamination and environmental pollution. Surface ground water contamination is one of those; it is all the more disturbing to Italy because of the threat to cultural and artistic treasures. Other problems include ocean dumping, the toxic effects of nutrient enrichment and chemical contamination on productive estuaries and lakes, and municipal waste problems which are forcing us to look into new recycling and resource recovery technologies. The Committee described a number of measures the U.S. has taken or is considering to alleviate the pressures of these types of problems: ratifying Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships; strengthening the Clean Water Act to address non-point source contamination for the first time; moving legislation through this Committee and the House which would establish a new coordinated federal research and technical assistance program to help state and local officials manage and protect their ground water resources; and signing the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone. The Italian delegation's mission visited Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) assets throughout the Tennessee Valley region; as the Italian government is planning the creation of a similar governmental authority to address water and natural resource management problems in Italy. Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd (D-Tennessee) briefed the delegation on the role of the TVA and its accomplishments. 3.1(0)-Implications of the Licensing Decision on the Chinese Long March Launch Vehicle In September 1988, the Administration notified Congress that it intended to approve export licenses to a U.S. satellite manufacturing company for the launch of two of its satellites, which had been ordered by an Australian telecommunications group, AUSSAT, on the Chinese Long March launch vehicle. The Administration also decided to approve a license for the launch of a third U.S.-made satellite on the Chinese Long March. This satellite, known as AsiaSat, was retrieved by the Space Shuttle in 1984, and will be launched on behalf of a Hong Kong-based consortium of British and Chinese ownership. In both cases, issuance of these licenses would be subject both to COCOM approval and to the following conditions: 1. The U.S. and the People's Republic of China (PRC) will establish a government-to-government agreement to safeguard the technology from possible misuse or diversion; 2. The U.S. and the PRC will reach agreement establishing the liability responsibilities of the Chinese government; and 3. The U.S. and the PRC will reach an agreement to prevent possible unfair Chinese pricing or trade practices relating to launch competition. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology examined this issue in two days of extensive hearings on September 23 and 27, 1988, involving government witnesses, the principal private parties directly involved in the licensing decision, outside experts on China, and representatives of American launch and satellite industries. Although several Members of the Committee were concerned that approval of the licenses would undercut the nascent U.S. commercial launch industry, the hearings clearly established the fact that the Long March licensing issue has implications that go well beyond the short-term impact of rocket contract awards, including the entire U.S./China relationship in high-technology trade-an area of utmost importance to both countries. U.S./China trade has grown to over $10 billion in 1987, which places the U.S. as China's third largest trading partner. Over 300 American countries have invested in China with total commitments now approaching $3 billion. The enormous potential presented by an expanded presence of U.S. commercial interests in the Pacific Rim benefits our national interests as well as our balance of trade. On September 30, 1988, the House, during consideration of H.R. 4781, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill, by the roll call vote of 234 ayes to 23 nays, to reject an amendment that would have jeopardized the three Long March licenses. 3.2-SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT During the 100th Congress the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight participated in a number of hearings held by the Committee and other Subcommittees: 3.2(a)-Hearings by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology H.R. 1905, the University Facilities Revitalization Act [Chapter III, Sec. 3.1(i)]. NASA's Response to the Committee's Report on the "Investigation of the Challenger Accident" [Chapter III, Sec. 3.1(g)]. 3.2(b)—Hearings by the Subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology Federal Information Policy Mechanisms: H.R. 2159, the National Technical Information Act of 1987, and H.R. 1615, a bill to establish the government Information Agency [Chapter III, Sec. 3.5(a)]. 3.2(c)—A Hearing by the Technology Policy Task Force Competitiveness and the Role of Large Corporations. 3.2(d)-The Subcommittee Participated With Other Subcommittees in Developing the Following Legislation H.R. 1905, the Universities Research Facilities Revitalization Act of 1987; Subconference 17 on H.R. 3, Trade and International Economic Policy Reform Act of 1987, regarding semiconductor manufacturing technology development; H.R. 2159, the National Technical Information Act of 1987; and 3.2(e) The Subcommittee Conducted Investigations Into the Biotechnology experiments in Argentina and New Zealand; ties. 3.2(f)-Impact of the Ammonium Perchlorate Plant Explosion in Henderson, Nevada Background On May 4, 1988, hundreds of workers fled for their lives as the Pacific Engineering and Production (PEPCON) plant in Henderson, Nevada disappeared in a series of explosions. Two people died and hundreds were injured. The PEPCON plant was one of only two domestic plants producing ammonium perchlorate-an oxidizer vital to the production of solid rocket motors used in the space program and the defense arsenals of the United States and her allies. Hearings The Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held two hearings in June of 1988 to examine issues resulting from the PEPCON explosion. The first hearing was held in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 1988, to address problems of ammonium perchlorate allocation in the explosion's aftermath. The second hearing was held in Henderson, Nevada, on June 24, 1988, to examine the local impact of the explosion. The Subcommittee hearing on June 8th addressed the issue of how to allocate the remaining ammonium perchlorate among U.S. and foreign users and how to restore sufficient ammonium perchlorate production capacity. Witnesses for the hearing included Admiral Richard H. Truly, Associate Administrator for Space Flight, NASA; Mr. Daniel S. Rak, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition Management and Policy) Department of Defense; Mr. Courtney Stadd, Director, Office of Space Transportation, Department of Transportation; and Mr. John Richards, Director of Office of Industrial Resources Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. Admiral Truly discussed the impact the explosion could have on NASA's anticipated schedule of Space Shuttle flights. Mr. Rak described the workings of the ammonium perchlorate advisory group which was making preliminary allocation decisions and planning for resumption of ammonium perchlorate production at a new facility. Mr. Stadd addressed the needs of the commercial launch industry and the effect shortage of ammonium perchlorate could have on that industry's future. Mr. Richards discussed the workings of the Defense Production Act and its application to the distribution of ammonium perchlorate if a shortage should develop. On June 24, 1988, the Subcommittee held a field hearing in Henderson, Nevada, to review the local impact of the PEPCON plant explosion. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Nevada testified regarding the explosion's effect on the State of Nevada as well as efforts underway to assist the citizenry in their recovery efforts. Federal officials from NASA and the Air Force testified regarding the recovery effort underway and the plans to allocate ammonium perchlorate until a new production plant was available. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) testified regarding FEMA's efforts to assess the blast's damage and FEMA's decision not to grant disaster status to the area. Local officials testified regarding losses suffered in the community as well the efforts underway to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Representatives of PEPĈON and Kerr-McGee testified regarding their respective operations, practices and plans for the future. The witnesses included Hon. James Bilbray (D-Nev.); Hon. Richard Bryan, Governor; Hon. Richard Miller, Lieutenant Governor; Rear Adm. Richard H. Truly, Associate Administrator for Office of Space Flight, NASA; Mr. Daniel S. Rak, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition Management and Policy); Hon. Gary Bloomquist, City Manager accompanied by Mr. John Finney, Director of Emergency; Mr. John Pappageore, Deputy Chief, Clark County Fire Department; Mr. Grant Peterson, Associate Director, State and Local Programs and Mr. Dennis Kwiatkowski, Assistant |