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U.S.
Senator Ken Salazar
Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees
2300 15th
Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO
80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C.
20510
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Sen.
Salazar Sends Army ‘Back to the Drawing Board’ on Pinon Canyon Expansion
Washington, D.C. – Today,
Senator Salazar received a letter from Peter Geren, the Acting Secretary
of the Army, stating that the Army will comply with Senator Salazar’s
suggestion that they go ‘back to the drawing board’ regarding their
land acquisition approach at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS).
Last month Senator Salazar
wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, outlining
his thoughts on how the Army could create a ‘win-win’ process for the
PCMS. Senator Salazar also asked that the Army take the time to meet
with and listen to the local community for their ideas and suggestions
to improve the process.
“The Army’s announcement
to go ‘back to the drawing board’ on their land acquisition approach
to the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site is a major positive step for Southeastern
Coloradans,” said Senator Salazar. “If any plan is
going to move forward, it must protect the ranchers and the ranching
economy and provide positive economic benefits to Southeastern Colorado.
It must also protect private property rights. I am encouraged that the
Army has recognized that it needs to fundamentally rethink its plans
for expansion at Pinon Canyon.”
Specifically in the letter,
the Army agreed to:
- Go back to the drawing
board on its land acquisition approach at PCMS,
- Listen and look to the
local community for some additional ideas and suggestions to improve
the process, and
- Fully consider potential
economic enhancements to local communities, while stating it as their
goal to acquire land only from willing sellers.
A full copy of the Army’s
‘back to the drawing board’ letter to Senator Salazar is available by
clicking here.
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