PUEBLO, COLO. — A Las Animas County commissioner says Army officials told him they’ve found someone willing to sell up to 100,000 acres to expand the the Pinon Canyon training site.
Commissioner Jim Montoya says he was told about the seller last week. Defense Department officials did not respond to queries about Montoya’s account.
The Army wants to nearly triple the size of the site to about 1,000 square miles, saying it needs the room to train more soldiers on new weapons and tactics.
Some ranch owners oppose the expansion, fearing they would be forced to sell their land.
Craig Walker of Denver, who owns about 100,000 acres near the southeast Colorado site, says he has not offered to sell to the military. Walker says he opposes the expansion.
Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain,
