PORTLAND – Maine’s congressional delegation hopes to protect the state’s military bases by changing the rules the Defense Department will use in deciding which bases to close next year.

Republican U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen sent letters this week to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with their suggestions about Brunswick Naval Air Station. They were joined by U.S. Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu, both Republicans from New Hampshire, and Massachusetts Democrat U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy in a letter about Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Rumsfeld plans to close up to quarter of the nation’s 425 bases in 2005 to cut costs. Congressional delegations and local communities are expected to fight hard for their bases, which employ thousands of workers and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts. For example, Portsmouth is slated to earn $248 million for refueling the USS Jacksonville submarine.

Generally, the Defense Department plans to choose which bases to close by using four criteria that examine a base’s military value and four for “other considerations,” such as the value to its surrounding communities.

In the letter about the Portsmouth base, lawmakers suggested the military consider factors such as coordination between military branches and domestic security agencies, ocean accessibility, demonstrated ability to adapt to changes in military requirements and the cost and efficiency of operations. The shipyard’s advantages include deep water, a nuclear license and experienced workers.

The three Maine lawmakers made similar suggestions for Brunswick. Brunswick is used by other military branches and NATO allies, has accommodated increases in combat operations and shown financial efficiency, they argued.

The Defense Department will finalize its rules Feb. 16. In March 2005, the defense secretary will propose a list of bases to close. The same month, the president will name a nine-member committee to review the list and make recommendations by Sept. 8, 2005.