Colorado Ranchers Angry Over Army Site Expansion

Colorado Ranchers Angry Over Army Site Expansion
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 4, 2007; Page A03

WALSENBURG, Colo. -- Herman Moltrer returned from Vietnam to be a cattle rancher on the broad shortgrass prairie that stretches as far as the eye can see in southern Colorado. The rugged work earned him a living and a little something extra for his soul, but now he fears he may have to sell his land, at someone else's price.

The U.S. Army wants 418,000 acres of private ranch land to triple the size of its Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site, a training area considered suitable -- some would say essential -- for preparing American warriors to do battle in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The 1,000-square-mile facility would be 15 times the size of the District.

Several dozen ranchers and members of 15 county commissions that voted to oppose the project find themselves pitted against the Pentagon and Colorado business interests in a struggle over property rights, personal heritage and the contested priorities of national security.

Amid countless conversations around Colorado dinner tables about the potential for an economic boom or a government betrayal, experts on the environment, archaeology and paleontology are registering their concerns that the land will suffer. Both chambers of Congress voted against funding further work next year, one skirmish in a fight not nearly over.

Colorado may not be alone. Military planners foresee a need for 5 million more acres for training facilities by 2011.


Rest of article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110300333.html?hpid=topnews