about closure of Bermuda's US Bases, Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons told the House of Assembly on Friday.

They are: The future of the 99-year lease signed between the US and United Kingdom in 1941. Bermuda wants it terminated, while the Americans want the deal to continue for the NASA tracking station at Cooper's Island.

"Securing clear title to the land is important for future commercial development of the Base lands,'' Dr. Gibbons said. "Our position is based on the fact that the 1941 agreement was for military purposes only.'' The environment. "Bermuda believes the US Government is obliged to remediate environmental damage at the Bases,'' Dr. Gibbons said. "The US Navy's position that it will only eliminate `known immiment and substantial dangers to human health and safety' is not sufficient.'' The US demand for $140 million in payments for assets it is leaving behind in Bermuda. "Government rejects this claim on the grounds that it has no basis in existing treaties or law,'' Dr. Gibbons said. "Moreover, many of the buildings and facilities at the Bases were built for specific military purposes and have no appropriate civilian uses; many are beyond useful life and some are safety hazards.'' Airport upgrades. "The Bermuda Government maintains the US is required by formal agreement to upgrade certain structures and facilities necessary for the operation of the Airport, such as runway lighting,'' Dr. Gibbons said. The Navy turned air operations over to Bermuda on June 1, and is scheduled to leave the Island completely as of September 1.

Dr. Gibbons said Government had taken its positions "to defend Bermuda's interests,'' and "they have received the formal backing of the United Kingdom Government.'' While Bermuda would continue "to press for positive results'', they should not be expected to come quickly or easily, he said.

While complimenting Base Commanding Officer Capt. Tim Bryan for his cooperation in the talks to date, Dr. Gibbons said Capt. Bryan's imminent replacement in the talks by Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and the Environment Dr. Robert B. Pirie, Jr. was "a positive development'', because of his senior position.

Capt. Bryan is set to leave Bermuda at the end of July. Dr. Gibbons also updated the House on the three-year, $12.9-million contract Government signed with Serco IAL to handle Base infrastructure.

"Serco IAL is well along in its plan to fill 20 of its 22 full-time positions with local residents,'' the Minister said. To date, 14 people had been hired for ten technical and four administrative posts. Seven were Bermudians and seven were spouses of Bermudians.

Serco IAL also intended to hire six apprentices, and talks were under way with Bermuda College to develop courses for them, he said.

The company had already let subcontracts for grounds maintenance, pest control, and vehicle and plant maintenance, he said. Other subcontracts would be for janitorial work, painting, water and sanitary work, and runway maintenance.

Technicians would also be hired locally to work on air conditioning, heating, and other systems.

Turning to the other major contract Government has awarded, the five-year $20-million contract awarded to Serco Aviation Services Inc. of Canada, Dr.

Gibbons said "feedback from pilots has been very positive about the level of our air traffic service and the effectiveness of the new equipment we installed''.