September 11, 1974
Page 30807
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment will be stated.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to read the amendment.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered; and the amendment will be printed in the RECORD.
The amendment is as follows:
Insert at the appropriate place in the bill, the following new section to read as follows:
"SEC.__. None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this or any other Act may be used for site acquisition or construction of the CONUS Over-The-Horizon radar system receiver antenna during the period after the date of enactment of this Act and prior to May 31,1975."
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I have taken this amendment up with the distinguished manager of the bill.
The amendment which I have called up today has a simple and limited purpose: that of obtaining sufficient time to resolve a number of questions which have been raised concerning the proposed site of the receiver antenna for the Over-the-Horizon Backscatter radar system in Washington County, Maine.
For several years, the U.S. Air Force has been investigating possible sites in Maine for the radar system. However, it was not until June 25 – after Senate passage of the Military Procurement Authorization bill that the Air Force announced the selection of a "preferred" transmitter site in western Maine and a receiver site in eastern Maine.
The receiver site, including 1,000 acres of valuable farmland, has generated the most concern among Maine citizens. The land in question produced 6 percent of Maine's total blueberry crop, with an estimated annual cash value of $347,000.
As a result, Maine citizens and State officials seek adequate opportunity both to point out to the Air Force the adverse economic impact of the selected site and to solicit from the Air Force information as to the availability and cost of alternative sites which would still meet the technical requirements of the system.
Public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement are being held this week in Maine, and the Air Force has encouraged public comment. At the same time, however, there are indications that development of the proposed site is proceeding apace. Therefore, the hearings may not provide an adequate opportunity for Maine citizens to convince the Air Force of the importance of the land in question to our economy. The purchase of land options on some tracts involved in the system are scheduled to take place prior to the hearing. Also, potential contractors were requested on July 25 to submit detailed proposals and cost estimates on site development.
This amendment is intended simply to limit any further action on site acquisition and development for the prototype receiver until additional information on the matter of site selection is obtained. It is not intended to prevent the Air Force from proceeding with development of the radar technology and other research activities associated with the OTH system.
Mr. President, this amendment is very similar to an amendment which I introduced on August 20 to the Defense Procurement Appropriations bill that was accepted by the distinguished Senator
from Arkansas (Mr. McCLELLAN) who floor-managed that bill. This amendment differs from my previous amendment only in that it provides that no moneys authorized in any earlier legislation – as well as in this legislation – shall be used for site acquisition or construction of the over-the-horizon radar system receiver antenna during the period from the date of enactment of this act until May 31, 1975. And the additional language is necessary, for I understand that the Air Force may use within the next few weeks money authorized in the fiscal year 1973 Military Construction Authorizations bill for site acquisition of the radar system receiver antenna.
Mr. President, let me emphasize again that I do not oppose the over-the-horizon radar system.
However, I do favor a temporary delay in the funding for its site acquisition and construction in order to assure that Members of Congress and the citizens of Maine have ample opportunity to resolve the questions which have been raised.
Mr. President, I understand the distinguished floor manager has considered this amendment and is willing to accept it for the limited purposes I have described.
Mr. SYMINGTON. I have discussed this amendment with the ranking member of the Military Construction Subcommittee, the distinguished senior Senator from Texas and we are glad to accept the amendment.
Mr. MUSKIE. I thank my good friend from Missouri.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. HATHAWAY). The question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE).
The amendment was agreed to.