KITTERY (AP) – The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is in line to get $8.1 million for a new acoustic testing facility despite the yard’s presence on a list of facilities proposed for closure.

New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu say money is included in the 2006 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill to upgrade the acoustic testing and calibration services at the yard.

The bill was approved by the Senate Appropriation Committee. The full House and Senate has yet to vote on the expenditures.

“It’s encouraging,” former shipyard commander Bill McDonough, head of Save Our Shipyard, told the Portsmouth Herald. But McDonough said he did not believe this would be deciding factor when commissioners consider whether to remove Portsmouth from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission list.

The federal money would go to build a new facility to test and certify acoustic equipment used by Coast Guard and Navy ships and submarines.

“The only acoustic testing and calibration facility currently at the shipyard is the only one being used by the Navy to certify submarine acoustic equipment,” Gregg said. “However, the shipyard will now be able to construct a new facility and continue to serve the Navy with the highest level of service found at any of our nation’s shipyards.”

Also included in the proposed legislation is $10.4 million to move the New Hampshire Air Guard Headquarters from Pease to a new facility in Concord, where it would be closer to the office of the adjutant general.

“The National Guard Joint Forces are far too spread out and, in many cases, using buildings and office space inadequate for its needs,” said Gregg. “And with the excellent news that New Hampshire has been awarded a Civil Support Team, the completion of a comprehensive facility where the joint forces can work under one roof is great news, and will lead to greater efficiency and coordination.”