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Army Could Condemn Land For Pinon Site Expansion

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May 16, 2006 10:40 am US/Mountain

Army Could Condemn Land For Pinon Site Expansion

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) ― Army officials said they haven't ruled out the possibility of condemning private land to expand its Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site training grounds in southeastern Colorado.

The Army has said it's seeking an additional 418,000 acres to expand the site near La Junta. In a letter to Democratic Congressman John Salazar, Assistant Army Secretary Keith Eastin said the Army might turn to eminent domain as a last resort.

Salazar said that's discouraging because officials at the Army's Fort Carson near Colorado Springs have said they were interested only in buying land from willing sellers.

Salazar said he will support farmers and ranchers who oppose using condemnation for the expansion and do what he can to prevent it.

Several ranchers around the 240,000-acre site have called the Army's expansion plan a land grab. About 400 landowners attended a meeting last Saturday in Pueblo to oppose it.

Fort Carson officials said they have a list of willing sellers around the training grounds. The Army used eminent domain to acquire the original acreage in the early 1980s.