Defense bill asks Pentagon to answer questions on Pinon Canyon

DENVER - A defense spending bill awaiting the president's signature also asks the Pentagon to answer questions on expansion plans for the Army's Pinon Canyon training site, Sen. Wayne Allard said.

Army officials have said they are considering expanding the 240,000-acre site in southeastern Colorado to as many as 1 million acres. Such an expansion could swallow up dozens of ranches and farms that are an important part of the region's economy.

"The local communities are frustrated because there has been an absence of information pertaining to the Army's proposal," said Allard, R-Colo., in a written statement.

Congress approved a defense spending bill late Friday that asks that the Pentagon answer several questions by Nov. 30 about plans to expand Pinon Canyon, according to Allard's office.

It asks the Pentagon to provide information including Fort Carson's current and future training requirements, the economic and environmental effects of expansion, estimated costs, and whether expansion could be handled by buying, leasing or exchanging land with property owners around Pinon Canyon.

It also asks what options were considered for compensating communities that will lose property tax revenues.