Wayne Allard: “Another bill dealing with the large military presence in Colorado relates to the expansion of the Army's Pinon Canyon…”

“Another bill dealing with the large military presence in Colorado relates to the expansion of the Army's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Due to an emphasis on rapid mobility, modularity, and maneuverability in recent years, the Army's ability to project force across the battlefield has increased exponentially. As such, the Army transformation is also driving higher their requirement for training space. With its close location to Fort Carson, Pinon Canyon was perfectly suited for the Army's training needs 20 years ago. However, with the arrival of 10,000 new soldiers to Fort Carson, the Army has determined that the size of the site needs to be increased in order to meet Fort Carson's new operational training requirements. I have been told repeatedly by Army officials that the genesis of Fort Carson's expansion proposal occurred when several landowners approached Fort Carson and expressed their strong desire to sell. I also understand that sufficient numbers of willing sellers exist to support a significant expansion of the site. However, many in the community surrounding Pinon Canyon have major questions that need to be answered.”