Pinon Canyon Expansion On Hold
Pinon Canyon Expansion On Hold Save Email Print
Reporter: Associated Press
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Thursday, the Army agreed not to press ahead with its controversial expansion of a 368-square-mile training site in southeast Colorado until it discusses possible "win-win" solutions with nearby residents and political leaders.

In a letter to Colorado Senators Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar, Army Secretary Pete Geren said the military will "Go back to the drawing board" on its approach to acquiring the land. (To see the letter, Click Here)

Geren also said the Army will consider economic enhancements for local communities affected by the expansion.

The military says it needs more space to accommodate growth at Fort Carson and changing training needs, but some ranchers fear they will be forced to sell, and that the economy will suffer if so much land is taken out of production.

Residents also question the need for the expansion.

Fort Carson spokeswoman Dee McNutt said the Army will go through several steps before taking any action and wants to listen to any good ideas.
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Posted by: Trish Location: Huerfano on Jul 21, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Dustin; Do you know what you are talking about? The top officials at Fort Carson have told us (the land owners) that they don't need the land. The suits in Washington are the ones who want it. I have also been told by several top people at Fort Carson who have served in Iraq, that they have never used Pinon Canyon and don't see that they will in the future even if it expands. All troops are sent to El Paso - you should know this.
Posted by: DJ Location: Thatcher on Jul 20, 2007 at 07:08 PM
When bases are closing all across the country, when the government owns approximately 83% of Nevada, why do they need more land? This is not in the least bit like Iraq. I'm all for training our troops and I'm grateful for all they do, but lets get realistic. The government has all the space it needs. To me, the Mexican border would be more appropriate. Save the money of building fences and just put the troops there. It has been years! since there have been large numbers of troops at the existing PCMS training. And we need more land because why? What they already took isn't good enough? I don't think everyone realizes exactly how large the area and the impact to the County will be.
Posted by: dustin Location: fort carson on Jul 20, 2007 at 01:46 AM
We need the extra space todays training requirments make it hard to train on so little space they are trying to focus on the warfighter which everyone else in the country should do to
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