WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Army would be banned for another year from spending money toward expanding its Piñon Canyon training site under language now in a U.S. House spending bill, but support for the measure in the Senate isn’t assured.
Sen. Ken Salazar, a Colorado Democrat, on Tuesday didn’t immediately back the House measure from his brother, Rep. John Salazar, a Manassa Democrat, and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Fort Morgan Republican.
Stephanie Valencia, a spokeswoman for Sen. Salazar, said he is awaiting the results of an Army study examining why the expansion is needed. Salazar and Republican Wayne Allard asked for that report, expected at the end of July. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, also will review it.
Sen. Salazar and Rep. Salazar “will work out” an agreement on the moratorium, said Eric Wortman, a spokesman for the congressman.
Another report on whether the Army violated an existing one-year moratorium is due in November.
Reps. Salazar and Musgrave each asked to have the language banning the spending added to a fiscal-year 2009 spending bill for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Meanwhile, a group representing landowners in the area called on lawmakers to permanently block the expansion.
“Our politicians need to show real resolve and end this once and for all — we don’t want any gates left open,” said Mack Louden with the group Not 1 More Acre.
Anne C. Mulkern: 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com
