Mention the proposed Pinon Canyon military expansion to nearly anyone in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or Trinidad, and you're bound to hear a variety of passionate arguments.
The U.S. Army currently uses about 235,000 acres of the area for training maneuvers and has sought to expand their holdings. An unlikely alliance of ranchers and environmentalists, however, remain staunchly opposed.
The Economist explains that military expansion in the area
would be cheap but politically risky. Ranchers are still smarting over losing ranches for the original site, which was snapped up contentiously under "eminent domain" (compulsory purchase laws), and local groups worry about overuse, environmental damage and vulnerable historic sites. People are also angry that the air force is keen to increase low-altitude flight training - some say as low as 200 feet - over parts of southern Colorado and New Mexico. Unsurprisingly, fighter jets can spook cattle.
A funding moratorium enacted in 2008 by former Colorado Reps. Marilyn Musgrave and John Salazar has so far blocked the military's acquisition of more land, but with the recent departure of both politicians and the moratorium's expiration on May 30, the ban's fate has been far from certain.
However, The Pueblo Chieftain reported Tuesday that Rep. Scott Tipton has secured support in the House Appropriations Committee to restore the ban.
In an open letter, Tipton acknowledges the need for a more permanent resolution. "My ultimate goal is to reach a long-term solution that protects private property rights and gives ranchers, farmers and the people of these communities the certainty they need to attract future businesses, strengthen and preserve our agriculture production, and continue the legacy of past generations."