An obscure federal law might spare McEntire Air National Guard Station from the Pentagon budget ax.

The measure, which has been on the books for about 20 years, says a Guard unit “may not be relocated or withdrawn” without the OK of the state governor, according to a letter Illinois congressional leaders sent to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Local and state officials who are leading efforts to save South Carolina’s military bases said Wednesday the law could keep McEntire off the base closing list due to be released by May 16.

If the Illinois representatives’ interpretation of law is correct, then the “onus of what would happen at McEntire is in the governor’s hands,” said Donald “Ike” McLeese, of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

And, if it winds up being Gov. Mark Sanford’s call, he will do what he can to keep the base open, spokesman Will Folks said.

“If there’s anything the governor can do to keep a South Carolina base from being shuttered, you can bet he’s going to do that,” Folks said.

A spokesman for Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said using the law to protect McEntire is “something we’re going to look into.”

The loophole was discovered by staffers of Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., and consultants aiding Illinois’ efforts to save its military bases. A review by House attorneys found nothing in the base closings legislation that superceded the decades-old law affecting Guard units, a LaHood spokesman said.

LaHood, House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., then sent a letter to Rumsfeld putting him on notice that the Pentagon cannot close Guard bases without the consent of governors.

So far, Rumsfeld has not answered the March 24 letter.

“They’re working on it right now,” said Pentagon spokesman Glenn Flood.

Brig. Gen. George Patrick, chief of the S.C. Air National Guard and spokesman for the state military task force, said, “This is certainly a positive piece of information that we throw into the bucket of justification for McEntire.”

McEntire, which costs about $1.7 million a year for the Pentagon to operate, can stand on its own as a base that contributes to the nation’s defense, Patrick said.

Located about 15 miles east of Columbia along U.S. 378, McEntire is home to the 169th Fighter Wing and two Army Guard helicopter units. About 2,400 full- and part-time members of the Air and Army Guard are stationed at McEntire.

McEntire is one of just four all-Guard bases in the United States and the only one in the South. The rest are at active-duty Air Force bases or public airports.

But all Air Guard bases are being reviewed for possible closure or realignment as the Pentagon aims to save $7 billion a year by cutting 25 percent of the nation’s 425 military bases.

Reach Crumbo at (803) 771-8503 or ccrumbo@thestate.com.