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Staff Writer CHICOPEE While Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's release of recommendations to the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 (BRAC) Commission revealed that the Westover Air Reserve Base has steered clear of a potential closings or cutbacks, Col. Wade Ferris, commander of the 439th Air Wing, reminded attendants at a press conference at the base last Friday that the recommendations are only a "proposed list." "This is not a closed list," Ferris said. "There are several more steps in this process." He explained that the recommendations are subject to the scrutiny of the BRAC Commission, which will submit a report to President George W. Bush in early September. The President is charged to accept or reject the Commission's report by Sept. 23, at which point Congress has 45 days to act on the recommendations. He said that the recommendation includes an expansion of the Reserve Base that include 80 positions. He said that while he was "prepared for the worse," all he could do prior to Friday's recommendation was to answer all of the 4,000 questions that were asked by the Pentagon in regards to the Base's capabilities and to "hope for the best." Ferris said that the notice was naturally taken as "good news" to the Reserve Base, which is the largest in the nation. "While we support the decisions of the Pentagon, we are relieved we are not presently on that list," Ferris said. He said that as the Reserve Base awaits the final recommendation from Congress, the Base will continue to provide the necessary information to the BRAC Commission. Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield also dodged a potential closing and is instead recommended to increase is workforce by 107 personnel, according to a press release from the Massachusetts National Guard. Otis Air National Guard Base in Falmouth, which is home to the 102nd Fighter Wing 253rd Combat Communications Squardon and 267th Combat Communications Group, has been recommended for closure, according to the release. | ||||||
