Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site held Scoping Meetings on Modernization

~Norman Kincaide

Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) staff held scoping meetings in Trinidad and La Junta on December 9 and 10, respectively.  The La Junta meeting was held at the Kiva where several information panels were spaced around the upper level. The first station directly behind the sign in table dealt with National Environmental Policy Act guidelines for pursuing alterations to United States Army modernization of the Pinon Canyon Site. Other panels provided a PCMS overview, need and purpose for proposed action, alternatives being considered, proposed ranges and dudded impact areas, proposed reconfigured restricted area airspace, and NEPA public scoping. There were no individuals in uniform.

The Army is proposing to modernize training activities and capabilities and to improve training facilities at PCMS. This would include creating a dedicated unexploded ordnance disposal impact area, constructing new ranges to accommodate current systems and incoming modernized Army weapons systems, renovation and construction of facilities and infrastructure and reconfiguring restricted airspace. Training at PCMS would be expected to increase.

Modernization includes: change of PCMS usage, creation of dudded impact area, reconfigure restricted area airspace, cantonment area infrastructure upgrades, remove or abandonment of PCMS segment of Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Pipeline and establish seven new training ranges. These new training ranges include: battle area complex, multi-purpose training range, digital multi-purpose training range complex, light anti-armor weapons range, automated record fire range plus, and automated infantry platoon battle course.

The need for theses changes is to ensure that the Army can effectively train for and respond to emerging threats in a rapidly evolving operational environment. A 2015 Environmental Impact Statement already addressed proposed increase in training at PCMS for brigade level training that limited brigade level activities to 4.7 months per year. This study enabled the Army to employ Stryker family of vehicles to train at PCMS.

Comment sheets were provided to gather feedback from the scoping meeting. The most frequently visited panel was where Mike Camp, Chief of Training at PCMS, explained the dedicated unexploded ordnance disposal impact area. This area would function as a range for 60mm, 81mm, 120mm mortars and 155mm artillery rounds. A 155mm artillery shell creates an impact crater of four to five feet deep and thirteen to sixteen feet wide. This “Dudded Impact Area” would be established in a declivity shielded from public view, most notably from the viewshed Highway 350 west of PCMS. Currently, only .50 caliber weapons and smaller are allowed live fire at the facility. Live fire commenced on PCMS in 2004.

These changes to PCMS naturally concern those who live and work in the region. Increased training stresses infrastructure and environment within the maneuver site. The Army rotates its movement of vehicles so no one route is overused in transit of vehicles to and from PCMS. These proposed changes to PCMS were initiated sometime in 2024. But the initial public disclosure and comment is with the scoping process. As with any proposed changes in use to federal government property whether it be the National Park Service, the Forest Service and the Comanche National Grasslands or the United States Army at PCMS, these changes require extensive planning, public outreach and issue resolution.

That the Army proposes yet another change to the maneuver site after promising no expansion and no live fire, brought out more skepticism by those who live closest to PCMS. Someone said that NEPA is not a promise in perpetuity to protect a certain region from change. Based upon the Forest Service Draft Assessment process and its initial lack of effective public outreach, it can be hoped that the United States Army can do a better job of explaining and justifying its need and purpose to those who are most skeptical. If this is the initial phase for modernization, it may take years for this process to take effect. It is interesting that the Forest Service proposed revised management plan for Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands and the modernization of PCMS should happen to coincide.

Ranchers are concerned about the effect upon livestock from potential noise from artillery and aircraft activities. Members of the Timpas Grazing Association attended: Barb, Zane and Andee Leininger and Cody, Tammy, and Kelsey Ridennoure. Otero County Commissioners Rob Oquist and Tim Knabenshue also attended expressing their concerns with these proposed changes to PCMS.

Mike Camp explaining to those gathered about the Dudded Impact Area.

Mike Camp explaining Dudded Impact Area.

Source

Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site Enhanced Mission Training Proposal for Action Scoping, Media Information handout

Summary from AI on 155mm impact crater.