News

S.D. delegation reacts quickly to Ellsworth announcement
By Celeste Calvitto, Journal Staff Writer

A two-pronged plan to deal with the future of Ellsworth Air Force Base has officially taken off.

South Dakota's congressional delegation Monday called for the panel that will consider Ellsworth's fate to hold a hearing in Rapid City as soon as possible, and talks regarding the base's role in the state's economic future began over the weekend.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., issued an unusual joint statement Monday asking for a meeting with Base Realignment and Closure Commission chairman Anthony Principi and requesting that BRAC have a regional meeting in Rapid City.

The action came only days after Friday's announcement that Ellsworth is on the Defense Department's list of recommended base closures and hours after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testified in Washington before BRAC that the department "is in need of change and adjustment." (See story at left).

Meanwhile, efforts to develop a transition plan began Saturday when Johnson's economic development director, Matt Varilek, arrived in Rapid City to meet with members of Black Hills Vision, the Ellsworth Task Force, Rapid City Area Economic Development Partnership, South Dakota Small Business Development Center and West River Business Service Center.

"Tim wants to make sure that, while working aggressively to reverse the Pentagon's recommendation to close Ellsworth, communities and local businesses access every opportunity for economic assistance," Varilek said. "We've been in contact with the (DOD's) Office of Economic Adjustment and will continue to be, so that no stone is left unturned."

Members of the delegation and Gov. Mike Rounds said at a news conference Friday after the DOD announcement that it would be prudent to have parallel efforts to keep the base open while taking the initial steps toward a transition.

In its joint statement regarding BRAC, the delegation said the DOD recommendation "defies logic."

"As the backbone of our bomber fleet, the B-1 bombers stationed at Ellsworth have flown missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, B-1s were integral in liberating Iraq by dropping more than half the satellite-guided munitions on critical targets including command and control facilities, bunkers, and surface-to-air missile sites," they said.

Reiterating points made during the Friday news conference concerning the status of the base, the delegation noted that Ellsworth "is not threatened by urban encroachment or congested air space. ... Since the last round of base closures, substantial investment has been made to upgrade facilities at the base. Rather than closing, we believe Ellsworth is well positioned to receive additional missions."

They also said the current round of domestic base closures "should wait until after the Department of Defense finishes redeploying troops to American soil. ... Simultaneously closing domestic and overseas bases will irrevocably damage our ability to defend against threats at home and abroad."

The delegation continued to dispute the DOD recommendation that the B-1s currently stationed at Ellsworth be transferred to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas.

"We firmly believe that it is a critical error in judgment," they said. "Consolidating our premier bombers at one location makes the B-1 an easy and indefensible target for those who wish to do our country harm."

Herseth was expected to speak on the House floor Monday night about the DOD announcement.

Contact Celeste Calvitto at 394-8438 or celeste.calvitto@rapidcityjournal.com