[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11130-S11133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                EXPANSION OF PINON CANYON MANEUVER SITE

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I come to the floor this morning to speak 
about an amendment we will be voting on in probably an hour and a half. 
It is amendment No. 2662, which has to do with the expansion of a 
training facility in my State of Colorado called the Pinon Canyon 
Maneuver Site. It is a training facility associated with Fort Carson.
  In February of 2007, a few months ago, the U.S. Army made an 
announcement it would move forward with an effort to acquire an 
additional 400,000 acres-plus of land in my State to add to this 
training facility. What I am asking my colleagues to do today is to 
join with me and a vast bipartisan majority of the House of 
Representatives in saying we need a timeout before we move forward. I 
ask my Democratic and Republican colleagues to join us in supporting 
amendment No. 2662.
  I say to everyone in this Chamber and to those who are listening, if 
you care about private property rights, you will support this 
amendment. If you care about ranchers and farmers in America, including 
those who make a living in southeastern Colorado, you will support this 
amendment. If you care about being wise in terms of how we spend 
taxpayers' dollars in expanding our military facilities, you will 
support this amendment.
  I wish to make a few remarks about its history, to put this into 
perspective.
  First, the Army in 1982 acquired 235,000 acres for the training 
facility now known as Pinon Canyon. That facility has been used since 
1982. It is an integral component of the training capabilities for Fort 
Carson, CO.
  In 2005, the BRAC Commission, in its recommendations which were 
approved in the Senate, recommendations which I supported, added 
additional troops to Fort Carson. The findings of the Base Realignment 
and Closure Commission said that Fort Carson had sufficient training 
facilities to provide all the training that is needed for our troops 
stationed at Fort Carson.
  So the first question to be asked by all those who are going to be 
impacted by this 400,000-acre expansion is whether that amount of land 
is sufficient to carry on the training purpose required at Fort Carson. 
That question simply has not been answered.
  If the Army moves forward with the expansion of the additional 
400,000-plus acres, we will have a Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in 
Colorado that will have 1,235 square miles. That is an area that is 
bigger than the size of the State of Rhode Island. Yet what the Army 
has proposed to do is acquire that land through condemnation or 
whatever necessary means to move forward with an unjustified need for 
an expansion of Pinon Canyon.
  I am not saying we ought not look at whether we need to have 
additional training facilities at Fort Carson. We certainly should take 
a look at that. But until we get the answers as to what has changed 
from January of 2005 until 2007 that requires the expansion of this 
training facility so we have a training facility the size of Rhode 
Island-plus, it is important we ask questions of the Army.
  I ask my colleagues to join us in moving forward with a timeout, with 
a 1-year moratorium on the EIS process which the Army has proposed, and 
during that 1 year we can ask some very important questions that will 
be important to those who will be most affected--the residents of 
southeastern Colorado. We need to ask those questions as well for the 
men and women in uniform, whom we train at Fort Carson and around our 
country, to be sure we have appropriate and adequate training 
facilities for them. Those are questions that do need to be asked.
  The Department of Defense authorization and appropriations bills will 
be coming up, and I have proposed and will introduce legislation that 
will be cosponsored by my colleague, Senator Allard, where we get those 
questions answered. When we have those questions answered, then we can 
make a thoughtful decision about how best to move forward in a manner 
that, first, enhances and protects the national security of the United 
States; No. 2, make sure we are protecting the private property rights 
of the ranchers who have lived in this area for sometimes three and 
four generations; and No. 3, the investments we make with respect to 
any expansion of Pinon Canyon are investments that make sense from a 
fiscal point of view.
  I ask my colleagues, when we get to amendment No. 2662 in about an 
hour, that they vote in support of this amendment.
  I conclude by saying there are two values that have driven me in my 
discussions on this issue of the expansion of Pinon Canyon over the 
last several months. The first of those values is we need to make sure 
we are providing the necessary training facilities for our soldiers at 
Fort Carson and those who will train at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. 
We need to make sure we are doing that, and we have a set of questions 
that need to be answered in that regard.
  Second, we need to be sure we are protecting private property rights. 
When one thinks about the fact that in these 400-plus acres, there are 
many ranchers who have been there for three and four generations, 
ranchers who have come to me with tears in their eyes, who talk about 
the fact that their wife is buried on their ranch and that they took 
the ranch from their father and their mother and from their 
grandparents, it seems to me that if there is an opportunity for us to 
make sure we are protecting private property rights, this is a time for 
us to say we are going to protect the private property rights of those 
ranchers.
  I say to my colleagues, I am not asking for the death knell to be put 
on any proposed expansion by the Army. All I am asking is that we have 
a 1-year timeout, a 1-year delay so we can get these fundamental 
questions answered on how we move forward with Pinon Canyon.
  I urge my colleagues to please support amendment No. 2662 when we 
vote on it in about an hour.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record 
letters in support of my amendment and the position on the Pinon Canyon 
issue from Otero County, a resolution from Huerfano County, Las Animas 
County, Colorado Counties, Inc., LaJunta, the Bent County 
Commissioners, Baca County Commissioners, the Club 20, Action 22, 
Crowley County, as well as Alamosa County.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                     Otero County,


                                  Office of the Commissioners,

                                    La Junia, CO, August 27, 2007.
     Senator Ken Salazar,
     129 West B Street,
     Pueblo, CO.
       Dear Senator Salazar: Through this letter, the Otero Board 
     of County Commissioners officially registers its adamant 
     opposition to the expansion of the current Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver Site and requests your support of the Musgrave-
     Salazar amendment. Although this office and individual 
     commissioners have corresponded with you on this matter over 
     the past several months we feel compelled to address once 
     again the U.S. Army proposed expansion.
       We appreciate your support in the disallowance of eminent 
     domain to acquire any

[[Page S11131]]

     land. However, simply halting condemnation will do nothing to 
     truly support those communities that are depending on your 
     representation to halt funding for the expansion entirely. A 
     majority of state lawmakers and Congressional 
     representatives, all 14 southern Colorado county commissions, 
     and the people of Colorado agree there should be no expansion 
     and no money spent on the expansion of the Pinon Canyon site. 
     As you know, opposition to the Pentagon's plan has been 
     overwhelming and bipartisan at every level--community, 
     county, state and national. We urge you to heed the will of 
     the people by ending any and all funding for any and all 
     aspects of the expansion.
       Thus, we ask you to protect the integrity of the regional 
     and state agricultural economy by supporting the language 
     authored by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-4th CD), supported by 
     Rep. John Salazar (D-3rd CD) and adopted overwhelmingly by 
     both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of 
     Representatives in June.
           Sincerely,
     Robert Bauserman,
       Chair.
     Harold Klein, Jr.,
     Kevin Karney.
                                  ____


                          Resolution No. 06-33

       Whereas, the U.S. Army established the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver Site in Las Animas County in 1982, through its 
     acquisition of approximately two hundred and forty thousand 
     acres of private land to provide a training facility for Army 
     personnel stationed at Ft. Carson; and,
       Whereas, the U.S. Army has initiated consideration of the 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site to accommodate a 
     significantly enhanced training program in expectation of 
     additional Army personnel being stationed at Ft. Carson; and,
       Whereas, the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site 
     could result in approximately four hundred thousand acres of 
     additional land being taken out of private ownership in 
     southeastern Colorado; and,
       Whereas, since the establishment of the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver Site, Huerfano County has realized minimal or no 
     economic benefit from the operations of the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver Site; and,
       Whereas, the U.S. Army has been forthcoming in providing 
     information to Huerfano County regarding its plans for 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; and,
       Whereas, the United States Army has not recognized the 
     serious destruction and loss of public access to the 
     historical artifacts located in the areas such as Vogal and 
     Picket Wire Canyons, including the Santa Fe Trail and other 
     closely situated sites which have scientific, historical, 
     paleontological and tourist-related interest. Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Huerfano County Board of County 
     Commissioners, That the Southern District Counties of 
     Colorado Counties, Inc. hereby take a position of opposition 
     to the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, for the 
     following reasons:
       1. that the U.S. Army has not provided sufficiently 
     detailed information to Huerfano County regarding its plans 
     for the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; and,
       2. that the U. S. Army has not agreed to refrain from use 
     of eminent domain to acquire privately owned land for 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; and,
       3. that the U.S. Army has no committees to fund a thorough 
     and object socio-economic study of the impacts that will 
     result from the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; 
     and,
       4. that the federal government has not committed to fully 
     compensate impacted counties in Southeastern Colorado with 
     Payments of In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) in conformance with 
     federal law and to provide compensation for all additional 
     land that may be acquired for the expansion of the Pinon 
     Canyon Maneuver Site; and,
       5. that the federal government has not committed to provide 
     financial compensation to all local governmental entities 
     that will be economically impacted by the expansion of the 
     Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, including counties, cities and 
     towns, school districts, special districts, etc.; and,
       6. that the U.S. Army has not committed to provide long 
     term employment opportunities for support jobs necessary to 
     operate the Maneuver Site nor afforded local business with 
     opportunities to provide goods and services to support the 
     Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
                                  ____

                                                Las Animas County,


                                Board of County Commissioners,

                                      Trinidad, CO, July 16, 2007.
       Dear Commissioners: The Board of County Commissioners of 
     Las Animas County, wish to make you aware of its concerns 
     regarding the potential expansion of the U.S. Army's Pinon 
     Canyon Maneuver Site, located within this county.
       The U.S. Army recently released its latest map iteration 
     reflecting the area of interest for expansion of the Maneuver 
     Site by more than four hundred thousand acres. The majority 
     of that land is located within Las Animas County. Should this 
     expansion be approved, the U.S. Army may seek further 
     expansion within Southeastern Colorado in the future.
       In the early 1980s, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
     undertook the acquisition of privately owned land in Las 
     Animas County, to create the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, not 
     all land owners were willing sellers. While the Army Corps of 
     Engineers negotiated for acquisition of several properties, 
     it proceeded to utilize the federal government's power of 
     eminent domain to acquire land from those property owners 
     with whom it was not able to negotiate a purchase price or 
     who were unwilling to sell. In the end, it took the 
     properties and let the Court determine just compensation.
       The acquisition of additional privately owned land will 
     further impact the agricultural community, displace 
     population, reducing the number of school-aged children in K-
     12 rural schools and reduce the tax base depended upon by 
     this county and the schools districts and special districts 
     in the area of the Maneuver Site. Further, the federal 
     government has never fully funded the Payment In Lieu of Tax 
     (PILT) program to offset lost tax base revenues.
       In June, the House of Representatives of the United States 
     Congress overwhelmingly, approved an amendment to the federal 
     military spending bill for 2008, prohibiting the U.S. Army 
     from proceeding forward with its plans for expansion of the 
     Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Within the next several days, 
     that same amendment will be considered by the U.S. Senate. 
     You are respectfully requested to contact both of Colorado's 
     United States Senators, Kenneth Salazar and Wayne Allard, and 
     request that they support the Musgrave-Salazar Amendment to 
     the military funding bill to preclude the U.S. Army from 
     pursuing expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. They 
     may be contacted at the following addresses and phone 
     numbers:
       U.S. Senator Kenneth Salazar, 702 Hart Senate Office 
     Building, Washington, DC 20510.
       U.S. Senator Wayne Allard, 521 Dirksen Senate Office 
     Building, Washington, DC 20510.
       Your support of this effort is sincerely appreciated.
           Sincerely,
     Jim D. Montoya,
       Chairman.
     Kenneth M. Torres,
       Chairman pro tem.
     Gary D. Hill,
       Commissioner.
                                  ____

     Hon. Wayne Allard,
     Dirksen Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Kenneth Salazar,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators: We, the undersigned County Commissioners, 
     comprising the Southern District of Colorado Counties, Inc., 
     and representing our respective counties within Colorado, 
     wish to express our appreciation to both of you Senators, for 
     your position opposing the use of eminent domain by the U.S. 
     Army.
       Your support is respectfully requested to adopt the 
     Salazar-Musgrave Amendment, as approved by the U.S. House of 
     Representatives, to prevent any funding for the study of the 
     expansion of the maneuver site, as the matter is taken up by 
     the U.S. Senate.
       While the U.S. Army has withdrawn its official map of 
     expansion published in June, nevertheless, any expansion 
     plan, should it be allowed, would have significant negative 
     social and economic impacts to our respective counties and to 
     southeastern Colorado, as a whole.
           Respectfully,
       (Signatures of Boards of Commissioners of the counties 
     comprising the Southern District of CCI.)
                                  ____


                        Resolution No. R-20-2006

       Whereas, the City of La Junta is cognizant of its neighbors 
     and the manner in which its neighbors have maintained their 
     livelihood; and
       Whereas, it is the belief of the City Council that Otero 
     County continues to be a predominantly rural area, 
     neighboring other counties with a similar preponderance of 
     rural related industries; and
       Whereas, the City of La Junta is cognizant of the proposal 
     by the United States of America acting through the Department 
     of the Army and Department of Defense requesting the 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site to include a 
     substantial expansion in Otero County and other neighboring 
     counties; and
       Whereas, the City of La Junta is cognizant of the great 
     hardship that will be realized by the citizens of La Junta, 
     to include the neighbors of La Junta in Otero County and in 
     surrounding counties as the impact of this increase in the 
     Army maneuver site will have a radical and adverse affect 
     upon the rural, predominantly agricultural related farming 
     and ranching operations of the area; and
       Whereas, a substantial number of wholesale and retail 
     businesses, retail feedlots and retail transportation 
     entities are directly related to and participate in 
     activities which are primarily agriculturally related and 
     which would be severely impacted by the expansion of the 
     Pinion Canyon Maneuver Site; and
       Whereas, the United States Army has not recognized the 
     rather serious esthetic destruction to historical artifacts 
     located in Vogel and Picket Wire Canyons, including the Santa 
     Fe Trail and other closely situated sites which have both 
     scientific and historic and tourist related interest; and
       Whereas, the City of La Junta is desirous of protecting the 
     rights of its citizens and

[[Page S11132]]

     the rights of its neighbors to enjoy the blessings provided 
     to all Americans to include the business operations that they 
     participate in; and
       Whereas, it is the judgment of the City Council of the City 
     of La Junta that the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site Expansion 
     Project would adversely affect the economy of the City of La 
     Junta, the economy of Otero County, and the region as a 
     whole; and be it therefore
       Resolved by the City Council of the City of La Junta, That 
     the City of La Junta does adamantly oppose any expansion 
     efforts in the Pinon Canyon Area by the Department of the 
     Army or the Department of Defense as currently proposed.
                                  ____

                                                       Bent County


                                Board of County Commissioners,

                                    Las Animas, CO, July 25. 2007.
     Hon. Kenneth Salazar,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Salazar: Although the Bent County 
     Commissioners have corresponded with you on this matter over 
     the past several months we feel compelled to address once 
     again the U.S. Army proposed expansion of the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver site located in our neighboring counties of Otero 
     and Las Animas.
       We do recognize the necessity of our military troops to be 
     adequately and professionally trained in their mission of 
     defending the freedoms that all of us as United States 
     citizens wish to preserve, however, the potential expansion 
     of the Pinon Canyon site by more than four hundred thousand 
     acres is not a viable solution. Property owners in both Otero 
     and Las Animas Counties have already made considerable 
     sacrifice on this project. The acreage previously acquired 
     for the Pinon Canyon site was, for the most part, secured by 
     the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers utilizing the Federal 
     government's power of eminent domain. The compensation paid 
     to those sellers unwilling to sell was therefore determined 
     by the Court and in many cases was an unjust dollar figure.
       The removal of lands in the affected counties will further 
     impact the agricultural communities of southeast Colorado 
     thereby displacing our already sparse population. Experience 
     from the previous purchase by the Federal government of the 
     Pinon Canyon lands has already shown a significant negative 
     impact on the tax base used to fund the counties, schools, 
     and special districts. The Federal government has never fully 
     funded the Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILT) to offset the loss 
     of tax base revenues.
       We respectfully request that you support the Musgrave-
     Salazar amendment to the military spending bill, as was 
     overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives in 
     June, which would prohibit the U.S. Army from proceeding 
     forward with its plans for the expansion of the Pinon Canyon 
     site.
       On behalf of the Bent County Board of Commissioners
           Respectfully yours,
                                                        Bill Long,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                                       Baca County


                                Board of County Commissioners,

                                     Springfield, CO, May 8, 2006.
       Dear Senator Salazar: The Baca County Commissioners wish to 
     express our opposition to the expansion of the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver site, more specifically in the use of condemnation 
     or eminent domain to secure property from unwilling sellers. 
     We also object to the expansion based on the negative 
     economic impact to our county because of the large amount of 
     goods and services provided by our constituents to the 
     residents of the expansion area.
           Sincerely,
     Troy Crane,
       Chairman.
     Bill Wright,
       District 2.
     Glen R. Ausmus,
       District 1.
                                  ____



                                                      CLUB 20,

                               Grand Junction, CO, August 1, 2007.
     Re CLUB 20 concern about proposed expansion of Army's Pinon 
         Canyon Training Area.

     Senator Wayne Allard
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Congressman Mark Udall,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Senator Ken Salazar,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Congressman John Salazar,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Allard and Salazar, and Congressmen Udall and 
     Salazar: CLUB 20's membership recently discussed the proposed 
     expansion of the U.S. Army's Pinon Canyon Training Area in 
     southeastern Colorado and we want to make you aware of two 
     concerns that we have regarding that proposal. While we are 
     quick to acknowledge that this particular issue is obviously 
     outside of the geographic scope of CLUB 20's Western Slope 
     constituency, the concerns that we have regarding this 
     proposal relate to matters that could establish dangerous 
     precedents for private landowners and local governments 
     everywhere.
       CLUB 20 fully supports the need for our government to 
     maintain the best-equipped and most highly-trained fighting 
     force in the world. However, with respect to this need, we 
     would like to raise for your consideration the following two 
     concerns related to the proposed Pinon Canyon expansion:
       (1) It is the policy of CLUB 20 that the federal government 
     should only acquire additional land when such proposals have 
     strong support from the local county and municipal 
     governments where the lands would be acquired. As concerns 
     the Army's proposed Pinon Canyon expansion, we are aware of a 
     significant amount of concern which has been raised by local 
     governments and private landowners in that area. Because of 
     the importance of securing local support for such projects, 
     we request that you urge the Army to make a more diligent 
     effort to engage these local governments in a collaborative 
     dialogue to effectively address the concerns of the local 
     community.
       (2) As with all such proposals which transfer land from 
     private to public ownership, CLUB 20 is concerned about the 
     resulting reduction in property tax revenues and the historic 
     unwillingness of Congress to fully fund Payments-In-Lieu-of-
     Taxes (PILT) to help offset this economic hardship to the 
     local community. While we recognize that related troop 
     increases at Fort Carson may yield additional economic 
     benefits for the larger Colorado Springs community, the 
     removal of these private lands from the tax rolls will likely 
     pose little economic benefit to more rural areas like Las 
     Animas County. We encourage you to fully explore the 
     potential adverse tax revenue impacts associated with the 
     conversion of such private lands and the removal of the 
     private agriculture enterprises currently dependent on those 
     lands.
       Thank you for your consideration of these two concerns, and 
     thank you for your continued support of our military 
     institutions and the men and women who proudly serve our 
     country in uniform.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Reeves Brown,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____


                         Resolution 07-08 AG 8

       Whereas, the U.S. Army wishes to acquire additional needed 
     land to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; and
       Whereas, the expansion of troops into Ft. Carson, as 
     provided in the BRAC report, is not contingent upon the 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver site, and
       Whereas, the new technology permits smaller units to 
     operate in and control significantly greater battle space 
     than was previously possible,
       Whereas, The expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site 
     could currently result in approximately four hundred thousand 
     acres of additional land being taken out of private ownership 
     in southeastern Colorado; and
       Whereas, Since the establishment of the Pinon Canyon 
     Maneuver Site, counties in Southeastern Colorado have 
     realized minimal or no economic benefit from the operations 
     of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site;
       Whereas, Homeland Security is of utmost importance to the 
     United States and the proper training of our soldiers is 
     needed; now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That ACTION 22 believes that the use of eminent 
     domain is not an acceptable means in the on-going discussion 
     in the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, and be it 
     further
       Resolved, That ACTION 22 stresses the need for timely, 
     positive discussions on the economic future of Southern 
     Colorado and the region as whole, and be it further
       Resolved, That ACTION 22 will not consider supporting the 
     expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site until the U.S. 
     Army provides sufficient detailed information to Action 22 
     counties** regarding its plans and needs for the expansion of 
     the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
                                  ____

                                                    Crowley County


                                Board of County Commissioners,

                                        Ordway, CO, July 31, 2007.
     Hon. Kenneth Salazar,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Salazar, We would like to lend our support to 
     out friends and neighbors in Las Animas County by requesting 
     your consideration of the Musgrave-Salazar Amendment to the 
     military funding bill when the legislation reaches the 
     Senate. Under the present set of circumstances it is 
     difficult to imagine transferring 400,000 plus acres from 
     private ownership to federal government control, without 
     large economic, social and cultural dislocations occurring.
       We very much appreciate your thoughtful consideration in 
     this matter.
           Sincerely,
     T.E. Allumbaugh.
     Kathleen Medina.
     Matt Heimerich.
                                  ____

                                                    Commissioners,


                                               Alamosa County,

                                       Alamosa, CO, July 30, 2007.
     Hon. Ken Salazar,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Salazar: This letter is in support of the Las 
     Animas County Commissioners who are troubled with the 
     potential expansion of the U.S. Army's Pinon Canyon Maneuver 
     site.
       The Board of Alamosa County Commissioners is troubled about 
     the expansion because of the agricultural community and the

[[Page S11133]]

     reduction of the tax base for Las Animas County. By reducing 
     the tax base this could have a major economic impact on the 
     schools and the community. The County like other Counties in 
     the state is struggling with revenues and this expansion 
     could do more harm.
       The Board of Alamosa County Commissioners is respectfully 
     asking that you support Las Animas County in prohibiting the 
     expansion of Pinon Canyon Maneuver site.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Darius Allen,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. SALAZAR. I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Florida.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Nelson of Florida pertaining to the introduction 
of S. 2024 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on 
Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont.

                          ____________________