A 'banner day' for Hill

Former Utah Congressman Jim Hansen, one of nine BRAC commissioners, agreed that good things are coming to Dugway.

"If this were the business world, I'd buy stock in Dugway if I could," Hansen said.

Hansen and the eight other members of BRAC will now visit every base on Rumsfeld's list. The commission has until Sept. 8 to submit its final BRAC list to the president.

Home-state delegations will no doubt be lobbying intensely as the commission deliberates.

"There will be plenty of kicking and screaming and shouting to get (BRAC) to change the recommendations," Hatch said. "But I think the recommendations are likely to stick."

In four previous rounds of closures starting in 1988, commissions have accepted 85 percent of the Pentagon's recommendations for closure or consolidation.

And for the first time, Utah officials are breathing easy at the prospect.

"Friday the 13th was not such an unlucky day for Utah after all," said Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.

---

Contributing: David Hinckley.

E-mail: spang@desnews.com; ldethman@desnews.com