Press Release - A New Year and a New Era

A New Year and a New Era 

For immediate release

Contact:          

Lon Robertson - lonr@ghvalley.net 719-980-5114

Steve Wooten - wootensj@hotmail.com 719-384-5813

The passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this past week signaled the end of an era and heralded the beginning of another.  The era of concerted resistance to expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site is morphing into an era of vigilance, watchfulness, and accountability.  Ongoing efforts will continue relative to the current Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) to verify compliance and hold our Federal Government accountable to protect private property rights and assure historical and environmental oversight.  The watchdog efforts of groups like the Piñon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition (PCEOC) will obviously continue.

Considering the passage of the NDAA as well as the recent removal of the DoD waiver (the internal permission that had been given by the DoD to allow expansion of PCMS), the PCEOC is breathing a collective sigh of relief.  PCEOC President, Lon Robertson expressed the feelings of the broad, bipartisan coalition of opponents to expansion in expressing his appreciation of the efforts of Senator Mark Udall and Representative Cory Gardner, "We are most grateful to our congressional delegation for doing what we've been asking them to do. With the removal of the waiver which authorized the acquisition of more 405,000 acres, and the amendment to the NDAA which nullifies any and all existing authorizations, the Army must start over from square one if they ever attempt to expand PCMS again." 

Robertson characterized these recent actions as, "huge." According to Army Assistant Secretary, Katherine Hammack, the removal of the waiver is "unprecedented." The waiver process is a mechanism first put in place in 1990 by the Department of Defense. It grants exemptions to a moratorium on major land acquisitions by the military and the Army was thus given a waiver in 2007 to expand PCMS.

"We are thankful, not only to our national elected representatives, but also to the elected officials, past and present at the state and local levels who have fought on our behalf over the past seven years," Robertson said. "We are also so very appreciative of the scores of organizations and thousands of individuals who've attended countless meetings, signed petitions, passed resolutions and written letters," he said.

But Robertson also sounded a note of caution; "While this definitely gives us some much needed breathing room, we understand that we will need to remain vigilant. The Army would have to start the whole process all over again if they ever want to try to expand Piñon Canyon in the future and that's good. We fully intend to monitor things and will be ready if that should ever happen."

In the meantime the PCEOC also intends to do all that it can to continue to protect the agricultural and heritage-tourism assets in the region surrounding Piñon Canyon. "This region has become much more visible to the outside world as a result of the expansion battle," Robertson said. "We want to both promote and preserve the region."

Robertson also stressed the importance of working to ensure that the current site is utilized in ways that respect private property, are environmentally responsible and which are respectful of Native American sacred sites. Over 5,000 archaeological sites and 761 National Register eligible pre-historic and historic sites are located there.

"This land is not only a treasure trove of our regional heritage but also the cradle of Colorado's early History. The Santa Fe Trail passed through here and the cattle industry was born here," he said. "This is our land and our life. Just as our parents and grandparents and great grandparents did, we intend to care for and protect it for future generations."   

The Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition is a broad-based coalition that represents communities across Southern Colorado in their opposition to the proposed military expansion of PCMS. PCEOC members include business owners, teachers, students, elected officials, ranchers, environmentalists and many others.   

The coalition has been, and continues to be united in its opposition to any expansion of PCMS.  No funding, no expansion. For more information, please see www.pinoncanyon.com .

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Problem with the EA and other 'studies' referencing one another

An excerpt from Doug Holdread's letter to the Colorado Springs Independent regarding an article they published (read the article here) : 

There’s a big problem with the current EA; it depends upon an earlier PEIS, which depends, in turn upon the earlier Grow The Army EIS.  And all of these documents rely upon yet another, earlier EIS, the 2007 Transformation EIS.  They all rest like a shoddily built edifice upon an unsound foundation; baseline data within the Transformation EIS.  That EIS was successfully challenged in federal court by Not-1-More-Acre. It was vacated by court order.  So, the whole structure that has been built upon it, the GTA EIS, the PEIS, and the CAB EA is nothing but a house of cards. The Transformation EIS has been pulled out and all of the other cards have nothing to support them.

The public has been left standing at the station, watching as the NEPA train chugs on down the tracks, but it's not too late.  No accumulated mass of flawed EAs, PEISs and EISs is sufficient to determine things.  The NEPA process simply produces a proposal. The final determining factor is funding.  Yes, in terms of the NEPA process, the CAB is a “done deal.”  But our elected representatives still have to appropriate the money to make it happen.  If our Senators, Udall and Bennet decide that they'd rather not abuse flawed NEPA documents to justify the abuse of our land and airspace for military expansionism, they can still pull the plug on the CAB.

 

The public can't influence the CAB decision through the NEPA process, but we can tell our senators that we want our Colorado public and private lands and our airspace to be used to contribute to energy independence so that future wars will be less likely.  We can send them the message that we don't want our lands and skies used to further militarize our state, increasing the likelihood of future wars for oil.

 

Udall and Bennet have an ethical and economic choice to make. There’s a battle going on over who will control the airspace between the surface and 500 feet.  Will it be used for expanded military training, or for the development of wind energy? If we remain silent the persuasive powers of the corporate, defense contractors will be the only voices that our senators hear.  We need to urge them to promote an economic future based upon alternative energy, agriculture and tourism; not upon the further federalization and militarization of our state’s economy.

Next meeting - Thursday at the Springs - Crowne Plaza at 6pm

Both of the first two of three scheduled public comment meetings this week were well attended and many important statements were made and entered into the record.

Monday night in Trinidad there were more people to comment than the time allowed - Good Job all! An article in the Pueblo Chieftain on Monday night's meeting in Trinidad can be read HERE 

Last night in La Junta, Jim Herrell with Otero Jr College and Not 1 More Acre! put it into context when he said, "well, here we are again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  And again." 

He is absolutely on target as we have done this many, many times before and will continue to do it if we have to.  'Enough is enough' is appropriate but we MUST ALSO KEEP OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS informed and get them to end this or we will keep on 'meeting this way'.

Our efforts to keep the Army at bay have always been successful because we are able to use these meetings and other ways to publicly raise awareness of the problems with every step the Army takes to try to expand PCMS. 

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Thank you to all who made it out to the first two meetings - we hope to see you Thursday in Colorado Springs at the Crowne Plaza hotel!  

Don't forget to sign your Private Property Airspace Declaration sheet and get to us!   Mail it to:  PCEOC, P.O. Box 137, Kim, CO 81049.  We'll forward it to our elected officials as well as the Army!
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Other Blogs on this issue:

CSIndy

Westerner

Denver Westword

The Army is committed to building community trust- rrriiigghhhttt

From their EA page 1-5:

1 (the)"Army is committed to open decision-making and building community trust."
[PCEOC: then why have they already made up their mind to implement the final decision?  The first week of Jan they sent out a Section 106 consultation to our Counties for CAB training exercises planned at the PCMS. As would be expected they determined there would be no adverse effects. This is the perfect example of their belief that they can do anything they want, as long as they check things off of their to do list.  Doesn't help our trust whatsoever....... does it yours?]

5"EA/Draft FNSI for public review. These notices will announce that the public has additional
6 opportunities to participate in the analysis and decision-making process for CAB stationing
7 implementation by: (1) providing two public comment periods; "
[PCEOC: Want to truly 'participate in the decision-making process'? Then come to the meetings and make your comments - get them documented and recorded - AND THEN COPY EVERYTHING TO OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND CALL THEM AND FAX THEM - THEY CAN PUT A HOLD ON THE WHOLE PROCESS IF THEY REALLY WANT TO REPRESENT ALL OF US!  The Army doesn't care - never will - if you want to change something get it in writing, and push our reps to do their jobs]

Army CAB Plans Ignore Fed Courts - January 2012

Your comments are needed!!!

PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS ARE SLATED FOR 6 to 8 pm Each evening:
JANUARY 23RD at TSJC IN TRINIDAD;
JANUARY 24TH at OTERO JR COLLEGE IN LA JUNTA;
JANUARY 26TH at CROWNE PLAZA IN COLORADO SPRINGS. 


Fort Carson is soon to receive more Federal Dollars (your tax dollars) to bring/create another Combat Aviation Brigade at Ft Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.

They've done an Environmental Assessment that says it won't cause any harm and public comment on that 'EA' is open through January. Download the EA HERE



Fort Drum in NY has a CAB with drones now as well.
Fort Riley in KS has a CAB already and will receive their drones in March.
So if Fort Carson gets a CAB then the drones will surely follow - but the EA doesn't mention that.

• The overall cost of the CAB is estimated to be in excess of $4 billion.  Over $700 million of that is for construction at Fort Carson.  The rest is for all the helicopters, drones and ground vehicles etc.
• In a time of budget cuts in general and in the Pentagon budget in particular  how does this make sense?  What are the priorities of our congressional folks who are pushing this?

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition presents to Colorado College

PCEOC Press Release

For immediate release

Contact:          

Doug Holdread- doug@holdread.com 719-680-3933

Lon Robertson- lonr@ghvalley.net 719-980-5114

KIM, Colorado (November 1, 2011)- On Thursday, November 3rd, the Colorado College Non-violence Club will host a presentation entitled, "Working Together" by the Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition.  The presentation will focus upon how the Pinon Canyon issue has defied traditional political classifications and employed unusual tactics, bringing together a coalition of ranchers, artists, environmentalists, preservationists and peace activists.   

According to PCEOC board member, Grady Grissom, "The issue touches on the environment, property rights, big government, the military-industrial complex, cultural heritage, and economic development.  It's an ongoing course in civics and political science."

Presenters will include Grissom, an environmentally conscious rancher, Steve Wooten, another rancher who has worked closely with biologists to document the bio-diversity of the region, Rebecca Goodwin, a preservationist who has worked to identify and protect cultural resources at Pinon Canyon, and Doug Holdread, an artist and educator who has mobilized artists to join the cause.  

The presenters will focus upon how the coalition has successfully brought together diverse sectors of the local community in taking on a deeply entrenched federal bureaucracy. They will present an overview of their successes over the past five years and discuss issues which remain unresolved. These include the Department of Defense waiver which authorizes expansion and remains in effect, as well as ongoing concerns about military expansions such as Fort Carson's Combat Aviation Brigade, CAB, and Canon Air Force Base's Special Operations Low Altitude Tactical Aviation, LATN proposal.   

The presentation will take place in the WAS Room in the Worner Center on the Colorado College Campus at 4:30 on Thursday.  

The Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition is a broad-based coalition representing communities across Southern Colorado in their opposition to the proposed military expansion. PCEOC members include business owners, teachers, students, elected officials, ranchers, environmentalists and many others.   

The coalition is united in its opposition to any expansion of PCMS.  No funding, no expansion.   

For more information, please see www.pinoncanyon.com.

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