Military officials to visit Nevada sites

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 | 9:49 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Philip Coyle, one of nine commissioners who are studying a sweeping Pentagon base closure and realignment proposal, will visit two Nevada sites on the chopping block.

The Defense Department in May recommended closing about 180 installations nationwide, including the Hawthorne Army Depot, a munitions dump that provides about 326 jobs. The department also recommended moving to another base the eight C-130 airplanes based at the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing station at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. That cut could affect up to 263 jobs.

Coyle agreed to tour Hawthorne and Reno on July 11 with the site commanders at the request of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., according to Reid's office. Reid said there were "flaws" in the Pentagon's recommendations. Nevada officials say the proposed cutbacks were inconsistent with national security objectives.

Nevada officials, including Gov. Kenny Guinn, testified at a regional hearing of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in Clovis, New Mexico, on Friday, in opposition to the cutbacks. The commission is conducting a review of the Pentagon's recommendations, and will file a report to President Bush by Sept. 8. If Bush accepts the report, Congress has the ability to reject it in its entirety, but cannot withdraw individual recommendations.