Udall eyes legislation to restrict Army Pinon site

Colorado Sen. Mark Udall says he’ll introduce legislation next week to restrict the Army’s ability to expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado.

Udall said Friday the provision would bar the Army from unilaterally expanding Pinon Canyon, including through eminent domain. No details were released.

Army leaders have insisted in recent years they no longer want to expand the 365-square-mile site, and Congress has imposed a series of one-year bans on funding for expansion.

Nearby ranchers say the year-to-year bans are inadequate and that banks sometimes hesitate to loan them money for fear the Army might take their land.

The Army said in August it might further distance itself from expansion by canceling an initial land acquisition permit it granted in 2007. No decision has been made.