Supporters of the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard say they are hopeful about the outcome of a rare meeting at the Pentagon today (Wednesday).
New Hampshire and Maine community leaders were in Washington to make their case to several Defense Department officials.
The business leaders say the timing is crucial, because US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is expected to issue a list of recommended base closures in just a few months.
NHPR Correspondent Julie Donnelly has more from Washington.
Use a stop watch, and don't talk about economics.
This was the advice Congressman Jeb bradley and other New Hampshire and Maine Congresspeople gave to their constituents.
The constituents were a group of business leaders who came to washington to convince the Pentagon NOT to put the shipyard on the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, list.
Use a stop watch because the DOD officials would cut them off after half an hour.
And don't talk about economics, because any community around the country, forced to close a base, will clearly have economic woes.
Congressman Jeb Bradley says the key is to talk about how the shipyard is unique.
"when you compare the cost, efficiency,... this should make a compelling case for portsmouth. but we also khow it's going to be a tough brac round"
The Pentagon will use eight criteria to determine whether a base should stay open.
They comprise everything from the environmental impact of the base, to how useful the base is in joint operations.
Unfortunately the ship yard isn't much use to the army or the air force.
But Bradley says the Department of defense should instead consider the shipyard's homeland security uses - such as protecting the port, and the Seabrook nuclear power plants.
"there are assets in the area that are very valuable, and i think the possibilities for homeland security have been underutilized"
The next major step in the process comes on March 15th.
President Bush is scheduled to announce the nine members of the BRAC commission.
That commission will then recommend a list of base closures to Secretary Rumsfeld.
Bradley says the makeup of the commission will likely have an impact on which bases escape the knife.
"we hope at least one member will be from new england and understand the quality of the base and the economic impact on the community"
After the commission is chosen, it's just a quick two months until the closure list is announced around the 16th of May.
Captain Bill McDonough from the Seacoast Shipyard association says unlike previous base closure lists, this one will be final.
"the sec of defense is closing a fabulous number of bases, 24, 25%. When the list comes out, there is going to be a political firestorm across the country"
If the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is on the closure list, the prospects for redevelopment seem dim.
Dick Ingram from the Portsmouth Chamber of commerce says the Ship Yard is very different from say, Pease Air Force Base, which has been turned into an economic redevelopment zone.
"you don't have the same opportunities, because geographically.."
There is one way to make the ship yard LESS likely to close - find it more work.
The business leaders say that while the ship yard will be busy until two thousand and eight, after that the work drops off.
So they are looking for homeland security projects, public private partnerships - anything to keep the ship yard active into the future.
But in the end, the decision, affecting the livelihoods of over four thousand granite staters, will be made by one man - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
For NHPR News I'm Julie Donnelly in Washington.
