Colorado Senators Require Army to Report Justification for Expansion of Pinon Canyon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate is expected to pass the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585) this evening. Included in the bill is a provision sponsored by Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard to require the Army to provide a report on any justification for the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.

“Senator Allard and I are working to get information from the Army,” said Senator Salazar. “The Army has not provided sufficient justification for its expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; nor has it created a plan that protects private property rights and the agricultural heritage of the area. Requiring that the Army justify their proposal is the right thing to do and I am pleased Senator Allard and I successfully accomplished this goal.”

“This amendment requires the Army to further study and justify their need to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site,” said Senator Allard. “Senator Salazar and I believe it is critical that we have a full report from the Army detailing why they need to expand the training area, what alternatives to expansion exist and the impact the expansion would have on southeastern Colorado’s economy.

Specifically, the Senators’ provision will require the Army to address he following questions:

• Is there a need for expansion, given the 2005 BRAC Commission finding that Fort Carson has sufficient training land to support its needs?
• Is the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site being used to capacity? How can the Army better use the existing land at PCMS to meet its training needs?
• If the Army needs additional land to train Fort Carson units, can it use other federal lands or land at other installations?
• If the Army added land to PCMS, what training capacity would be added to Fort Carson?
• If the Army were to expand PCMS, what economic benefits would it provide to local communities and how could the ranching heritage of Southeastern Colorado be preserved?

The amendment requires the Army to provide answers to these questions and to solicit public input on its report. In addition, the amendment would require that the General Accounting Office (GAO) review the Army’s report and justification for expansion.

Upon Senate passage, the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1585) will now go to conference committee where it will be reconciled with the House passed version.

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