Army changes Pinon tactics

Military offers to seek 'win-win,' work with locals

Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, July 20, 2007

The Army on Thursday agreed to "go back to the drawing board" on its approach to acquiring land to expand the Piñon Canyon training ground.

But the Army made it clear it's not backing down on its controversial expansion plan, which would triple the size of the current site in southeastern Colorado.

Thursday's development came in a letter by Acting Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to Colorado's two senators.

Geren agreed with Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar's suggestion that the Army should seek a "win-win" solution that would allow the expansion but would also economically benefit ranchers and other locals.

But Salazar's attempt to find a compromise didn't please many who want the Army stopped.

"I don't want our state more dependent on the military," said opponent Bill Sulzman, of Colorado Springs.

The plan would increase the tank and artillery training base from 235,000 acres to 654,000 acres - approaching the size of Rhode Island.

The expansion has been opposed by ranchers, local governments, the Colorado legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Many locals don't want to sell their land. Many, too, fear major environmental damage by tanks, explosives and resulting dust storms after the earth has been torn up. Furthermore, they say, eliminating ranching on that much land would devastate the local agricultural economy.

In his letter, Geren agreed to "fully consider potential economic enhancements to local communities" and to look to the local community for ideas on improving the process.

"We will not move forward with any acquisition until we have had an opportunity to discuss ideas for a win-win solution with you and with the local communities," the secretary wrote to Sens. Salazar and Wayne Allard.

Salazar spokesman Cody Wertz hailed the letter as the first time the Army has admitted that its previous approach was unacceptable.

"Our main goal is to have them work with the local community," he said.

The senator is determined to find a solution that both protects the ranchers and enhances the economy, he said.

Lon Robertson of the Piñon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition said the Army letter appeared to change nothing. His group believes "there's no justification for destroying or acquiring more property" and that the Army has room to train on the land it already owns.

Salazar's letter to the Army suggested possibly stationing a brigade of 3,500 soldiers at Piñon Canyon. That could bring construction work and the potential for off-base housing, shopping and entertainment for soldiers outside the site.

Now, soldiers go to the canyon only for training. They live and are stationed at Fort Carson, giving the economic benefit to Colorado Springs.

An Army spokesman at the Pentagon said the Army is willing to consider stationing a brigade at Piñon Canyon.

But Sulzman said Salazar's idea of creating a military town on the edge of the base is "pretty dangerous."

"It would change the culture. You'd dwarf the population already there and change the opposition to further expansion," he said.

The Army also said it would consider Salazar's other suggestions, including an economic development fund, an office to help local business win defense contracts, continued land leasing and grazing by farmers, and minimizing the taxes on those who sell land to the Army.

The Army said it was interested in hearing other ideas from the community.

Neither the Pentagon nor Fort Carson set any dates for public meetings.

At the existing site, troops practice live ammunition battle maneuvers in tanks and other vehicles. The military says it needs more land because modern weapons shoot farther than ever before.

The Colorado Competitive Council, an umbrella organization for 42 chambers of commerce, hailed the Army letter.

imsea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438