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Background:
Begun in the mid-1960s as "Project Sanguine," the ELF communications project consists of two transmitters, one in Clam Lake, Wisconsin, and one in Republic, Michigan.
The Navy states that Project ELF is designed to transmit a one-way signal to deeply submerged nuclear-
armed Trident submarines in attack situations, indicating when they should ascend to receive more detailed
communication.
During a 1996 court trial against peace activists, three expert witness -- including former nuclear missile
commander Captain James T. Bush -- testified that Project ELF's sole role is to launch and wage a nuclear
war.
Recent Action:
During consideration of the fiscal year 1996 Defense Appropriations bill, Wisconsin's two Democratic
Senators, Russell Feingold and Herbert Kohl, succeeded in passing an amendment on the floor of the Senate
to terminate Project ELF.
However, in the House-Senate conference, Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young (R-FL) and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
restored funding based on a Navy briefing on the national security issues regarding a program known as EHF
-- not ELF.
In fiscal year 1997, $15 million was appropriated for Project ELF.
In January 1997, Sen. Feingold introduced a bill, S. 59, to terminate the ELF program.
Taxpayer Concerns:
• In the words of Sen. Feingold, Project ELF "lingers like a blot in our budget." The program has survived
for nearly two decades.
As early as 1979, the General Accounting Office recommended that the Secretary of Defense terminate
any plans to construct an extremely low frequency transmitter system, since it "enhances communications
capability only marginally at best."
The following year the Navy agreed, and sought to end funding. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger,
however, overruled his flag officers in 1981, and the project was allowed to continue.
• Project ELF has outlived reform efforts partly because of confusion about classified aspects of the program. Sen. Feingold has demanded a Navy briefing on the issue. "The Navy explicitly told me there was no 'classified' reason for maintaining ELF," he said.
Environmental Concerns:
• Many Wisconsin and Michigan residents object to Project ELF. Some find the transmitters to be a nuisance. Others are concerned about potential risks to public health, or about the project's implications for nuclear war.
Metal fences in the surrounding area must be grounded to avoid serious shock from the presence of high
voltages. Some residents report hearing a "Taos Hum," a low, grumbling noise on the threshold of audibility.
Furthermore, some residents and scientists believe that electromagnetic pollution (EMP) has direct and
adverse effects on human health.
• Thousands of people have participated in demonstrations, petitions and votes in opposition to Project
ELF. Numerous editorials in the region's newspapers have called for Project ELF to close.
• In 1984, a U.S. District Court ruling on the State of Wisconsin vs. Weinberger found enough evidence to
close down Project ELF for possible health effects, and for violations of the National Environmental
Protection Act. The ruling was subsequently thrown out based on the perceived Soviet threat. $ |
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Green Scissors Contacts:
Martha Hayward, Pax Christi, 906/475-7582; Ardeth Platte and Carol Gilbert, 410/233-4067; Barbara Beesley,
Groundwork for a Just World, 313/822-2055.
Pro-Spending Contact:
Public Affairs, Space and Naval Warfare System Command, 619/553-8493. |
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