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 .

# # #

 

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. 

________________________________________

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!
 ________________________________________ 

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.

# # #

Wayne Laugesen, Colorado Springs Gazette editorial page editor, displays hypocrisy

In the 3/29/2011 on-line edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette, Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor, displays an incredible blind spot. The editorial in question involves the closure of the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility near Las Animas.  Read the article: http://www.gazette.com/articles/right-115384-view-closing.html

Obviously, reasonable arguments can be made for, or against, closing prisons. What is amazing is the blind spot and hypocrisy on display by Wayne Laugesen. The exact same arguments he makes can be applied to the military installations in Colorado Springs. The following statement of Wayne's illustrates this.

“We will never do away with the need for prisons, but let’s be careful to never confuse a prison as something other than a cost. Prisons bring jobs and wealth to localities that host them, but the money is taken from other regions. This is necessary, but should not be confused as economic gain."

Another notable quote in the article is from State Representative Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs:
“The reality is that we just have too much government,” said Gardner, as quoted in the Bent County Democrat. “Sometimes the most efficient thing is to shut something down, even if people will be impacted in the short term. The role of prison is not one of an economic development tool for a community.”

The truth is, both correctional facilities and military installations are vital; but they are also an overhead cost on society, transferring capital from other uses. Pro-expansion forces see the expansion of the PCMS as economic insurance for Colorado Springs, or as an economic development tool.

Wahoo! Tipton gets Pinon Canyon funding ban reinstated - From the Pueblo Chieftain.....

Tipton gets Pinon Canyon funding ban reinstated

By PETER ROPER | proper@chieftain.com | Posted: Monday, May 23, 2011 6:19 pm
   Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., has convinced the  chairman of a crucial House appropriations subcommittee to restore the annual funding ban that has blocked the Army from spending any money to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site for the past four years.
   Rep. John Culverson, R-Texas, is expected to restore the funding ban to the 2012 military construction budget when it is considered by the full House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. Culverson chairs the military construction subcommittee and his backing of the Pinon Canyon moratorium almost certainly guarantees the ban will remain in place.
   For Tipton, the new GOP congressman in the 3rd Congressional District, the funding ban has been a critical issue because it has been the centerpiece of the opposition to the Army's controversial efforts to expand the 235,000-acre training site northeast of Trinidad.
   Tipton inherited the ban from former Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., and ranchers opposed to the Army's efforts were gravely concerned last week when they learned that the military construction subcommittee had not retained it in the 2012 military construction budget they drafted a week ago. The ban has been in place since 2008.
  Tipton was under close scrutiny by those ranchers because he'd promised to defend the funding ban until some kind of long-term agreement could be reached between the Army and the ranching community over Pinon Canyon.

Congressman Titpton to hold Town Hall on Pinon Canyon tomorrow night

From his office: "Rep. Scott Tipton to Hold Town Hall Meeting on April 26th in Trinidad; Following a tour of Pinon Canyon (and Fort Carson) during the day, Rep. Scott Tipton will host a town hall meeting to TO DISCUSS PINON CANYON and other important issues, and take questions from constituents.
When: Tuesday, April 26th, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sullivan Student Center, TSJC

Please attend......... we're not sure what exactly is being pushed so of course our eyebrows are raised.........

So we haven't received word from Mr. Tipton on the exact nature of this visit - 

We do know he's talking to three individual commissioners from three local counties while at the site,and wanting them to also visit Fort Carson and then fly down to the maneuver site.  (we have no qualms about the commissioners meeting with them - and trust those commissioners will stand fast with no expansion positions).

We do know when a staffer was asked if he wanted to speak to the landowners around the current site as part of his 'tour' his staffer advised that 'if they want to talk to Tipton they can come to the Town Hall meeting.'

So yes, we're a bit on edge - will you attend with us?

Army not providing all the facts? Doug Holdread Blog

Let me try to say this delicately; the Army is not providing all of the facts when they say, "The waiver does not authorize land acquisition-it simply allows the Army to continue studying the requirements and plan accordingly." There is a document that Fort Carson and other bases produce for this purpose. It's called a "Land Use Requirement Study," (LURS). The waiver goes beyond studying and planning. It is a permit. The very first sentence of the waiver approval states it pretty clearly, "the Army is requesting an exception to the subject moratorium in order to acquire approximately 418,000 acres of land, estimated to be valued at 108.8M." If it has no intention of expanding Pinon Canyon, why won't the Army cancel the waiver? After all, they claim it doesn't really mean anything. So why won't they grant us this additional reassurance? All it would take is a simple memo from Secretary of the Army McHugh stating that, "the waiver, granted by my office on February 7, 2007 is hereby by declared null and void." It's pretty obvious that want to keep the waiver in place because it an important weapon in their acquisition arsenal. Right now the safety is on,(year-to-year spending ban) and there's no bullet in the chamber,(Congressional funding), but they've got the gun, aimed and ready. Telling us that there is nothing (currently) in the budget for acquisition is cold comfort. We've seen how military budgets can turn on dime. And what about their "black budget;" all of the billions that nobody is allowed to monitor? What about the fact that a couple of years ago, then Army Undersecretary Keith Eastin said, "we believe we already have adequate money appropriated for that purpose in our current land acquisition budget?" (Pueblo Chieftain, July 18, 2008)

PCEOC Position Unchanged regardless of Army letter - NPR Story on same

PCEOC Release in response to letter of 5 yrs without money promise

NPR Story April 6, 2011

AP story says 'Army not sure if a procedure exists to withdraw the waiver'

From an AP story today (by Dan Elliott)  READ STORE HERE

"On Wednesday, the Army said the budget is a more important signal of its intentions than the waiver...

The waiver does not authorize land acquisition — it simply allows the Army to continue studying the requirements and plan accordingly," the Army's said. "Only Congress can authorize land acquisition funding."

That statement that only Congress can authorize acquisition funding is meant to mislead the public. In the same breath they state that the waiver allows them to study expansion.  In other words "we haven't asked for acquisition funding but we will continue to spend money to research and promote expansion until we get acquisition funding in the future"

In the Army's words on the waiver request in 2007:

"The Army is requesting an exception to the subject moratorium in order to acquire approximately 418,000 acres of land, estimated to be valued at $108.8M, in and around PCMS, a sub-installation of Fort Carson, CO."

AND

“approve the request and require the Army to report periodically to the DUSD (I&E) on the status of consultations with local landowners and on the continued assessment of specific lands necessary to support the training requirement.”

 

It says nothing about 'budget' in that letter giving approval for a waiver of the moratorium - This waiver ALLOWS THE ARMY TO PROCEED WITH EVERY OTHER EXPANSION PROCESS EXCEPT TRADING TITLE.  IT ALLOWS THE SHADOW OF EXPANSION TO LOOM INDEFINITELY. 

REFUSING TO REMOVE THE WAIVER IT TANTAMOUNT TO THUMBING THEIR NOSES AT OUR CONGRESS.

 

So to say they 'aren't going to expand' is difficult to believe as long as that 'internal process and go ahead' exists. "They're not sure if a procedure exists to withdraw it" - give me a break. If it was something they thought would benefit them they would devise a procedure. 

Stories on Pinon Canyon

The Pueblo Chieftain - Udall and Bennet ask Army to put it in writing
The Westerner Blog on Pinon Canyon
West Word continues good articles explaining Pinon Canyon issue

Ranchers: 'No' to more Pinon site training - Pueblo Chieftain

Click here to read article at Pueblo Chieftain on line

Five-year fight with Army brings community closer | brings, year, closer - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Five-year fight with Army brings community closer | brings, year, closer - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Handout from last night and for tonight's public comment meetings.....

Army Still Seeks Expansion of the

Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS)

____________________________________________________

In 2007 the Department of Defense (DOD) gave the Army permission in the form of a special waiver to expand PCMS. Because that waiver is still in effect, the only thing keeping the Army from acquiring more land at PCMS is the continuation of the year to year funding ban enacted by Congress.

____________________________________________________

Two Critical Priorities to assure Continued Blocking of

the Expansion of PCMS:

1.     Our legislators maintain the annual funding ban that prevents the Army from spending any  money related to PCMS expansion

2.     Our legislators push the DOD to remove the waiver or declare it null and void

______________________________________________________________

What is “The Waiver”?

(see HERE for document requesting the waiver and HERE for approval document)

In the late 1980’s the Department of Defense (DOD) approved a policy that banned any DOD agency (such as the Army) from buying large amounts of land.

However, in 2006 the Army requested an exception to this policy (a waiver), specifically to purchase more land to expand the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, stating that the proposed expansion area was a good opportunity because it was “relatively inexpensive and sparsely populated”.

This waiver was granted by the DOD in 2007, giving the Army the green light to pursue expansion.  The waiver is still in effect even now.

After a congressionally ordered investigation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that many omissions were evident in the waiver request. According to the Army’s own procedures, local public approval should have been given prior to any DOD approval of the waiver—this public approval was never sought or approved.

_______________________________________________________________

What You Can do to Help

Please contact your local, state, and federal legislators. Let them know that we MUST CONTINUE THE FUNDING BAN AND TO ASK THE DOD TO REMOVE THE WAIVER.

________________________________________________________________

For more information on the waiver, the funding ban, and for legislative contacts please look for other handouts, call us at (719) 643-5600 or visit our website at www.pinoncanyon.com

Army Blitzes SE Colorado

We haven't asked in a while but this week WE NEED YOU!

If you could possibly sacrifice a few hours this week to be at some or all of these meetings it will speak volumes to our elected officials.

PLEASE ALSO CALL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS - ASK THEM TO DO THE SAME.......... ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE BY BEING THERE IS VITAL TO OUR BEING HEARD.

The Army seems to be blitzing us this next week, in an effort to

1. gain documentable public/political support they can use against us and

2. sidestep laws and Federal Court orders

Your presence is needed at multiple meetings:

   

First, Tuesday night, the 15^th of February.  The Trinidad City Council will be meeting at 7pm in Trinidad City Hall.  

Purpose: Discussion and action relative to enacting a resolution in place of the Army requested 'Covenant'.  We are told the Army will have a presence there as well and we need to show support of the City Council for standing their ground by our being there.

Second, Wednesday night, the 16^th of February in La Junta, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Student Center at Otero Jr College.  The Army will be holding public comment meetings on the Environmental Assessment they are issuing - designed to replace/avoid the court vacated Environmental Impact Statement.  We need as many people as possible to attend and show our elected officials how decidedly opposed we are on expanding PCMS.

Third, Thursday night, the 17^th of February in Trinidad, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Sullivan Center at Trinidad State Jr College.  The Army will be holding public comment meetings on the Environmental Assessment they are issuing - designed to replace/avoid the court vacated Environmental Impact Statement.  We need as many people as possible to attend and show our elected officials how decidedly opposed we are of expanding PCMS.

Be sure to start calling your representatives and letting them know 'enough is enough'.  Stop this expansion nonsense now!

Need legislator contact information?  Goto the PCEOC website legislator page.

Critically important to start letter writing campaign to Congressman Scott Tipton

It's time once again to get out the pens and paper and send letters, emails, faxes, call and get your friends to do the same, as well as your friends' friends. 

Representative Scott Tipton may not believe that so many are against expansion - he will be meeting soon with the Army commanders and we need to let him know we trust he will protect us and keep the ban in place. The more letters, calls and emails he gets the better obviously!

Please write, call his offices, send a fax, leave a message that you are against expansion and ask Congressman Tipton to keep the spending ban in place.

His contact information is:

Pueblo Office
503 N. Main Street, Suite 658
Pueblo, CO 81003
...Phone: 719.542.1073
Fax: 719.542.1127

Washington, DC
Phone: 202.225.4761
Fax: 202.226.9669

Alamosa Office
609 Main St., #105 Box 11
Alamosa, CO 81101
Phone: 719.587.5105
Fax: 719.587.5137

Grand Junction Office
225 North 5th St., Suite 702
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: 970.241.2499
Fax: 970.241.3053

.

Pueblo Chieftain understands completely what must happen.....

PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN EDITORIAL
Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011 12:00 am

HALT NOW  
Halt — now    4 comments 
 

THE ACTING senior commander at Fort Carson says there are no current plans and no money to expand Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site — but only for the next few years.
   Brig. Gen. James Doty made the statement during a meeting with The Chieftain’s editorial board this week. And, at the moment, the money for expansion doesn’t appear to be in the Pentagon’s budget.

   On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress, by holding the Pentagon to last year’s spending level, would create a $23 billion gap in his department’s needs. In other words, there would be no money for things such as land acquisition.
   In light of that, the Pentagon should order Fort Carson not to spend any money on land acquisition, and it should do so now. As it is, the fort has been granted Defense Department authority in the form of a waiver to pursue expansion. That waiver must be countermanded now.
   However, the Army is prohibited from spending money on acquisition by virtue of an amendment to the Pentagon’s spending authorization legislation. That prohibition first was sponsored by Reps. Marilyn Musgrave and John Salazar and subsequently renewed by the same amendment sponsored by Reps. Salazar and Betsy Markey.
   Now the area is represented by Reps. Scott Tipton and Cory Gardner, whom we earnestly urge to continue the ban in the new budget cycle. The Army has never made a persuasive case that it needs more area at Pinon Canyon. Even though it now appears a change in Army training doctrine will make the alleged need temporarily moot, we must never stop fighting any expansion plan.
   Under that new doctrine, only relatively small units would train at any given time, meaning any need for even more than the 238,000 acres at Pinon Canyon has disappeared. But vigilance is needed, because new officers in charge of Pentagon planning could change doctrine again, and Pinon Canyon could be in the sights of a new regime.
   Nonetheless, the Pentagon should rescind the waiver so that it’s clear that Fort Carson has no authority whatsoever to purchase land around the Pinon Canyon site. Once a bureaucracy — even the Army’s — gets a project under way, that effort gains a life of its own unless it is stopped dead in its tracks.
   What’s deeply troubling is that the uncertainty faced by neighboring ranchers makes it difficult for them to make rational decisions about financing improvements on their spreads. And the cattle industry is huge in Southeastern Colorado.
   La Junta cattle sales are second in volume only to those in Oklahoma City. Ranching and farming provide the lifeblood of the Lower Arkansas Valley’s economy and directly benefits Pueblo’s economy. Just as the valley needs to protect its water for farming, it needs to protect the ranching interests, some of which go back three or four generations.
   The Army has no need to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. It should halt any and all efforts toward that end — now.
.

Commissioners ask for more oversight and truth in care of Historic Sites at PCMS

Saving history

The Pueblo County commissioners have asked a federal agency to intervene and oppose the Army’s training operations at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.

The request came in a letter to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The council provides the means for citizens to help safeguard historic sites by filing request for agency involvement. The agency can require federal departments to report how they are protecting historic artifacts under their supervision.

While Fort Carson long has maintained it has worked to protect sensitive sites at the training area, officials there acknowledged that some damage occurred during a brigade training session there last summer. The training area has a number of sites relating to Indian activities and encampments.

The county commissioners made their request after hearing a presentation from Not 1 More Acre!, a coalition of ranchers and other opponents of the Army’s attempt to expand the training area. The commissioners realize that the economic health of the Arkansas Valley’s farming and ranching industry is vital for Pueblo’s own economic vitality.

All who care about this region’s rich cultural history should thank the commissioners for their involvement

The Pueblo Chieftain Editorial 12/26/2010