The Army is facing considerable opposition to the expansion of Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) used for military training outside of Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO. Two amendments introduced to the funding bill for the acquisition, introduced by Se. Ken Salazar from Colorado passed the Senate.
The amendments will require the Army to provide evidence the additional land, some 414,000 acres, is needed for training. In addition the amendments prohibit the Army from using any funding for acquisition for expansion purposes.
Senator Wayne Allard voted against the measures explaining, that they are too restrictive. The amendments will prevent the Army from distributing handouts, providing information, holding community meetings, or conducting environmental impact studies.
The amendments will have to go to a conference committee and be merged before being signed into law by President Bush.
source: Western Livestock Journal, September 17, 2007, Vol 86 No. 49 “Army must wait to proceed at Pinon Canyon”
