PUEBLO, Colo.—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 Pinon 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 Reps. John Salazar and Betsy Markey said they’ll propose a bill prohibiting any future expansion of Pinon Canyon.
And 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 Pinon Canyon expansion.
Lon Robertson, a Kim-area rancher and president of the Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition, said landowners are feeling a sense of relief, but not victory.
“I’ve been told the Army hopes that whoever replaces Eastin will be able to get off to a fresh start with landowners,” Robertson said. “If that’s the case, the Army just doesn’t get it that no matter who gets that job, the answer will be ‘no.'”
The Army wants to expand the 370-square-mile site near La Junta to about 525 square miles, saying it needs more room to accommodate new weapons, new tactics and additional soldiers. The site is used by Fort Carson, south of Colorado Springs.
Opponents worry the Army will acquire the land through condemnation if it can’t find willing sellers. Army officials have said they won’t and are looking at leasing, rather than buying, land.
Opponents warn the expansion would hurt the regional economy and local governments by taking so much land out of agricultural production and off the tax rolls. They also say it would cause environmental damage.
Congress passed a moratorium on spending on the Pinon Canyon expansion project last year because of the opposition.
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Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain,
