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I would say that, from what I have learned, it was very difficult to gain access to some of the facilities in the Federal Center, and to have the kind of mutual exchange of ideas and preplanning that we would normally find in facilities that were not controlled by some other third party.
I would think that in my review of the 1977 fire, our people apparently thought that the situation was going to be corrected, that that near disaster was evidence enoug:h that something needed to be done, and expected the proper authorities within GSA to follow up.
Apparently that was attempted but not completed by the time of the 1978 fire.
Mr. Preyer. You say that it was attempted and that you had difficulties in gaining access.
What was the problem in gaining access ?
Mr. EsTEPP. I do not think the problem in gaining access was one that was deliberate. I think it was the case that at that site there are multiple Federal tenants who are under the control of GSA.
Apparently there are some secure areas on the property other than the film vaults, and even with the film vaults there are two different tenants, the Archives and the Library of Congress.
The general impression left by the security people to our company officers was that these were restricted areas and their access was limited.
Whether, in fact, that was the case or not, is open to speculation, but in any event, the message transmitted was that these were secured areas.
Mr. Preyer. Mr. Kindness ?
Mr. Kindness. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chief, I want to thank you for your testimony.
I am curious whether you could describe to the subcommittee, the types of contacts that you or your Department have had with GSA, the Library of Congress, or any other part of the Federal Government concerning these buildings, following the 1977 fire, and perhaps more pertinently, following the 1978 fire.
Could you describe whom you contacted and what sort of results occurred ?
Mr. EsTEPP. I can speak more authoritatively, I think, since the 1978 fire. Through our county executive, we contacted Dr. Rhoads, the National Archivist. He made available staff personnel who allowed us access to the buildings. We were, at that point, communicating in a manner that we probably should have been communicating in years past.
Since the 1978 fire, we have had no problem gaining access or doing anything else that was necessary.
In the 1977 incident, so far as I know, our investigators did come in, at GSA's request, and did have a cursory look at the buildings and again pointed out some of the problems.
It was our understanding that those conditions were going to be corrected.
We certainly do not have the manpower to check up on all of their activities and see, on a day-to-day basis, that these things are being carried through.
Mr. Kindness. At the present time, are there conditions that exist, not just with respect to the nitrate film, perhaps, but otherwise in that area ? Do they need correction ?