KRDO - Governor Ritter to pass HB1317

Gov. To Pass Law Against Pinon Canyon Expansion

Posted: May 17, 2009 08:39 AM

Updated: May 17, 2009 05:23 PM

By SCOTT HARRISON

s.harrison@krdo.com

DENVER - There's more good news for ranchers near the Army's Piñon Canyon maneuver site.

Evan Dreyer, press secretary to Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, told NEWSCHANNEL 13 Sunday that the Governor will sign a bill prohibiting the expansion of Pinon Canyon. This comes just days after the Army's decision to shift funds from the plan for a year.

This is the first public commitment Governor Ritter has made on House Bill 1317. According to Dreyer, Ritter has spoken with ranchers who oppose the expansion. The General Assembly passed the bill earlier this month with bipartisan support.

After Ritter signs the bill, the new law will bar the sale or leasing of any state land overseen by the Colorado State Land Board to the Army for expansion of the training site. Last week, the Army shifted $17 million set aside for the project, to Fort Polk, Louisiana for construction there.

However, Army officials say even without the money for the expansion, they will continue to talk with landowners in hopes of acquiring their property. Officials say the need for expanding the training site has not changed. El Paso County Commissioners earlier this month sent a letter to Ritter asking him to veto the bill, and business leaders likewise expressed support for the Pinon Canyon plan.

Estimates are even scaled down from 400,000 acres to 100,000, expanding the site would boost the regional economy by $9 million annually; add $140 million to the Las Animas County area; and create 100 jobs. Dreyer says the region actually loses nothing by the Army shifting funds for the project, since the money was solely for land acquisition.

Ritter has until June 5 to sign the bill, and says he will do so as soon as all of the necessary paperwork is completed and on his desk.