PUEBLO — Ranchers are encouraged by lawmakers’ attempts to rein in the proposed expansion of a military training site in southeast Colorado, but aren’t ready to declare victory.
Landowners have been fighting expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site since the Army announced plans more than three years ago to increase the 238,000-acre site by about 414,000 acres.
Opposition to the plan hasn’t lessened despite the Army’s announcement last year that it would scale back the expansion to 100,000 acres.
Democratic U.S. Reps. John Salazar and Betsy Markey said they’ll propose a bill prohibiting any future expansion of Piñon Canyon. A bill that would prevent the Army from acquiring any state land around the site is moving through the legislature.
Ranchers are also encouraged by the expected retirement of Keith Eastin, the Army assistant secretary whose priority was the Piñon Canyon expansion.
Lon Robertson, a Kim-area rancher and president of the Piñon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition, said landowners are feeling a sense of relief, but not victory.
The Army says it needs more room to accommodate new weapons, tactics and soldiers.
