Army, Congress Spar Over Colorado Training Site

The Army has plans to circumvent a congressional ban and acquire land in southern Colorado to expand its maneuver site near Fort Carson.

The ongoing fight pits Army brass against members of the state's congressional delegation.

Army Assistant Secretary Keith Eastin told the Pueblo (Colo.) Chieftain on Thursday that the Army plans to appraise and purchase up to 100,000 acres from "willing sellers" in order to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in the arid southeastern corner of the state.

Eastin told the paper that Congress would need to approve the purchase of any land but said, "We believe we already have adequate money appropriated for that purpose in our current land acquisition budget."

Republicans and Democrats in the state's delegation viewed his stated plans as a possible violation of the congressional ban that prevents the Army from buying land or even studying the long-planned expansion.
Continue reading post...