Allard continues to push for Pinon Canyon expansion

Posted by egable on September 11th, 2008 filed in Military

The opposition to the proposed expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado is fighting renewed efforts by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) to authorize expansion. Allard has stated he will offer a bill to prevent the Army from using eminent domain that would also allow the acquisition of 100,00 acres.

Expansion opponents say the 100,000-acre acquisition represents the first phase of a land grab by the Army, and Allard should wait for the results of reports expected to be completed in January before making any decision. The National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress for fiscal year 2008, requires the Government Accountability Office to prepare a report considering the Army’s report on the need for the expansion by Jan. 15, 2009.

“Mr. Allard is trying to sidestep his own legislation, to go against the majority of Congress, and to go against the overwhelming evidence that an expansion is not necessary,” Steve Wooten, rancher and vice president of the Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition, said in a statement. “Required responses and information won’t be available until at least January of 2009 yet Senator Allard is saying he will propose legislation which would allow the expansion of PCMS to go forward. Why would he rush to push authorizing language before he has all the answers he asked for in the first place?”

The group says Allard’s legislation would also allow the Army to defy the congressional ban on spending for the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site expansion. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) said yesterday that he intends to push legislation that would continue the funding ban through 2009.