By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Department of Defense will create a huge database by the end of the day Tuesday, detailing all the information that led to the decision to close the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and other military bases.
Lawmakers and security-cleared staffers will be able to view the data initially. The general public will be able to review the non-classified sections by June 4.
The move is in response to angry letters from US Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton and members of the Western New York delegation. The lawmakers complained they did not have enough information to mount a successful challenge to the Pentagon's judgments.
Schumer says he's already has discussions with the chairman of the commission that is reviewing the Pentagon's recommended base closings, Anthony Principi.
"He assured me that it is not a done deal, that they will listen to the arguments," Schumer said. "He (Principi) said the argument that I had been making about how this would really hurt recruitment for the National Guard and the Reserves. How are you going to recruit people when they sign up and end up at a base in Arkansas? It made a lot of sense to him."
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission, known as BRAC, will hold a hearing in Buffalo on June 27th. Supporters of keeping the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station open say they're confident some of the data being released today will boost their case.