Delegation trying to shape base criteria

BRUNSWICK – Seeking to preserve the Brunswick Naval Air Station, Maine’s congressional delegation has joined together to try to shape the criteria to be used in the next round of base closings.

Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Tom Allen are urging Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to consider specific issues as the Defense Department begins drafting criteria to be used for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process.

They suggested using the following factors in determining which bases should stay open: strategic location, irreplaceable properties and facilities, plenty of space free of encroachment, and demonstrated ability to adapt.

They also suggested that bases where allied forces routinely train would be more valuable.

“The suggested criteria are critical aspects of military value that need to be recognized before any decisions on bases are made,” the three lawmakers said in a Dec. 11 letter to Rumsfeld.

By law, Rumsfeld is expected to publish the initial selection criteria in the Federal Register by Dec. 31.

The chairman of the Brunswick Naval Air Station Base Realignment and Closure task force welcomed the move by the congressional delegation.

“Setting up the criteria is a crucial step,” said Richard Tetrev. “The delegation has worked with us and are doing their part in ensuring Brunswick Naval Air Station’s value is apparent.”

Tetrev said the executive committee of the task force is scheduled to meet Jan. 13 to begin to fashion a response to the expected Dec. 31 release of the criteria.

“Without knowing what their criteria are,” Tetrev said, “we can’t plan our strategy.”