By Staff
Buffalo, NY – Congressional representative Thomas Reynolds and Louise Slaughter continue to push for release of classified documents regarding the Pentagon's base closing process. The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base was included on the list, which was released last month.
Monday's Buffalo News reports that documents on a Defense Department website indicate that the Air Force was considering expanding the 914th Airlift Wing at the air base as recently as seven months ago. It's unclear how the 914th went from being considered for expansion to being targeted for closure, as several of the documents remain classified.
"It just really frustrates me that we were a gainer up to the point that we went on the list for potential closure," Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, told the News.
But the documents dating back to November do reveal that the Air Force had targeted the National Guard's 107th Air Refueling Wing unit, also based at Niagara, for closing.
Local supporters of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station are hoping to make their case for keeping the base open when members of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission visit on June 27th. A public hearing will be held that same day in Buffalo.