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