BEAUFORT -- For the past year and a half, retired Marine Col. John Payne has lived for the Defense Department's latest round of Base Closure and Realignment.

It follows him on vacation and pops into his mind at the most mundane moments. As chairman of Beaufort's Military Enhancement Committee, he has led the effort to impress upon Pentagon officials just what Beaufort's three military installations have to offer future force projections.

With the May 16 deadline for the Defense Department's release of recommended base closures less than a month away, the committee is as busy as ever.

But while most of the enhancement committee's work has focused on preventing Beaufort bases from being closed, members now are focusing on what would happen to the area if Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has to accommodate additional squadrons or if Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is asked to pump out additional recruits. If Beaufort's bases are called upon for extra responsibilities, thousands of new residents could flood the area in the next few years, Payne said.

"We hope we would gain some missions, and that would require some planning because you'd have an influx of people," Payne said. "That means highways, schools, housing, these kind of things need to be planned for properly."

The effort to at least think about expansion will kick into gear Monday when Payne will meet with County Council Chairman Weston Newton, Port Royal Mayor Sam Murray and Beaufort Mayor Bill Rauch to discuss what would need to be done if missions are added to Beaufort's installations.

A last lobbying trip to Washing-ton is planned so a Beaufort delegation can make a final pitch to Defense Department officials.

The committee also hoped to play a role in a redevelopment authority if an area base is closed. Having one entity those interested in developing the bases could go to would eliminate infighting and other problems, Payne said.

"We will be descended upon by a plague of locusts in the form of consultants and developers," should any bases close, committee member Thomas Van Etten said at Wednesday's meeting.

If bases are not on the list, they probably will not be added by the BRAC Commission because Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has made it clear that he doesn't expect the nine members to alter his recommendations substantially, said Gen. Jim Shufelt, a committee member who also is assigned to Gov. Mark Sanford's BRAC Task Force.

Payne said at Wednesday's committee meeting that the list may be released as early as Friday, May 13.

"Bad news," he said, "is usually sent out on Fridays."