WASHINGTON - The Base Closure and Realignment Commission sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday asking for more detailed recommendations on the closure or realignment of several bases, including Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The commission is required by law to seek more information from the Pentagon before it adds new military installations to the list.

The commission is reviewing the Pentagon's recommendation to move Grand Forks' 50 KC-135 tanker planes to five other bases, and transfer most of its 2,800 military personnel elsewhere.

In the letter, the commission asked the Pentagon to elaborate on its recommendation to realign rather than close Grand Forks Air Force Base, and to specify the number of UAVs planned for assignment there.

Air Force officials have said they are considering Grand Forks as a potential base for unmanned flying drones, or UAVs, which could be operated by Air National Guard pilots in Fargo and other pilots at Grand Forks.

Commissioners also asked the Pentagon if adjutants general and governors were consulted in the reallocation of Air National Guard aircraft and personnel from their states, and what impact the realignment of the guard will have on homeland security missions.

Under the recommendations, the Air National Guard base in Fargo would lose all of its fighter jets but would retain most of its personnel.

The commission asked Rumsfeld to elaborate on the explanations at a hearing on July 19.

Commissioners can modify the list before they forward it to the White House and Congress for approval this fall.

A base can only be added to the list if seven out of nine commissioners approve.

In a joint statement, Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and Republican Gov. John Hoeven were positive about the information request.

"This is the same kind of information we've been urging the Air Force to prepare," their statement said.