Sen. Byrd Announces Contract Award for New Fuel Cell Hangar for West Virginia National Guard

October 01, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today announced the award of a contract in the amount of more than $20.068 million to BBL Carlton, LLC, of Charleston, West Virginia, to construct a new C-130 fuel system/corrosion control hangar and shops for the West Virginia National Guard facilities at Yeager Airbase in Charleston. Byrd had the funding included in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, which was signed into law in March.

“I am very pleased that this critical federal funding is now on its way to Yeager Airbase. The men and women of the 130th, with their unflagging commitment to their country, continue to make us all proud. To stay on the cutting edge, they must have superior facilities and infrastructure. This new maintenance hangar will be a major asset for the 130th Airlift Wing and to the entire Yeager Airport facility,” Byrd stated.

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The new C-130 fuel cell hangar will replace the current hangar, which is nearly 40-years old and at the end of its functional life. The structure will be repositioned from its current site to increase the unit’s aircraft parking space and will be connected to the planned new maintenance hangar.

West Virginia Adjutant General Allen Tackett added that, "Construction of this hangar is a major part of the 130th Airlift Wing's infrastructure improvement plan and creates unlimited opportunities for future growth and development at the base. The expanded aircraft parking apron resulting from these improvements will also allow the West Virginia Air Guard to better execute its vital homeland defense mission in support of events in the National Capital Region. Senator Byrd's tireless efforts to secure funding for this project will result in one of the most modern C-130 bases in the Air Force. His strong support helped prevent closure of the 130th Airlift Wing during the 2005 BRAC hearings, and today he has helped position the base as a vital part of our nation's future airlift capability."

In 2005, Yeager Airbase was placed on the Pentagon’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list. Senator Byrd -- along with state, local, and federal officials -- worked with the West Virginia National Guard, and grassroots supporters to save the base. Having successfully thwarted efforts to close the base, Byrd continues his efforts to update and expand the Guard’s capabilities in West Virginia.

According to development plans for the base, the fuel cell hangar will be connected to a new maintenance hangar that is under construction using $17.3 million secured by Byrd in legislation that was signed into law in 2007. Together, these two new facilities will expand capabilities at Yeager, which will help to protect the facility from potential efforts to close the base through the Pentagon’s BRAC program in the future.

Source: Senator Robert C. Byrd