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Congressman John T. Salazar -- Defending Rural Values -- Third District of Colorado
 
For immediate release: March 30, 2009
 
 
Contact: Ben Marter (Markey)
202-503-7888
Eric Wortman (Salazar)
202-225-4761
 
 

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE QUESTIONS LAND ACQUISITION AT PIÑON CANYON

 
 


Raises concerns over Army’s moves to expand maneuver site

WASHINGTON—On Friday, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Edolphus Towns sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations Keith Eastin, raising concerns over the Army’s land acquisition procedures and lack of necessary planning and cost-savings analyses.

The Oversight Committee had been asked to investigate the Army’s actions in Piñon Canyon by Congresswoman Betsy Markey and Congressman John Salazar.

“I’m glad to see that the Oversight Committee is moving forward with their investigation,” said Rep. Markey. “The Army’s movement on the Piñon Canyon expansion has been deeply troubling and they have some very serious questions to answer.”

“It is my hope that the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform can get to the bottom of the questions I have been asking for years.  What are the reasons for expansion and what alternative sites were considered?  I am yet to be satisfied with the answers and hope that the Committee can get to the bottom of this, once and for all,” said Rep. Salazar.

The Letter from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is attached and below:

Mr. Keith E. Eastin
Assistant Secretary of the Army
Installations and Environment
110 Army Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 203 10-01 10

Dear Mr. Eastin:

On January 13, 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued report number GAO-09-171 concerning the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS). As required under the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008, GAO specifically reviewed the Army's July 2008 report concerning the expansion of PCMS by 418,571 acres, and later limitation to 100,000 acres for training purposes. The conclusions reached by GAO are troubling, and include concerns regarding land acquisition procedures in the Army, and lack of necessary planning and cost-savings analyses.

As a result of GAO's report, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives pursuant to Rules X and XI of the House Rules, is monitoring the expansion of PCMS. To aid in our investigation, I request that you brief the Committee staff on PCMS no later than April 10, 2009. The briefing should include further information regarding the following:

1. Why the Army selected the 100,000 acre site.

2. The cost-savings per acre for expansion.

3. The current planning, timeframe and type of training under consideration.

4. 'Whether the Army will proceed with a complete environmental impact assessment of PCMS.

5. Whether the Army is considering leasing land adjacent to PCMS if so, what type of lease?

6. What are the alternatives, if any, to the expansion of PCMS?

Should you have any questions regarding this request, please contact me or Leah Peny of the Committee staff at (202) 225-5A51.

Sincerely,

Edolphus Towns
Chairman

cc: The Honorable Darrell Issa
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

 
 

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