In response to my previous post on the subject, I received a following e-mail (personal information omitted) from Colorado:
I'm active in opposing this for many reasons including the forced removal of American citizens from their homes and lands by the U.S. Military, the reality that the expansion serves the purpose of a multinational miltary-industrial complex, the use of the military as a tool of economic development for Colorado Springs, and the destruction of thousands of pre-historic and historic sites including world-class dinosaur digs and track ways.
Here are a couple of things that can be done. Key legislators to communicate concern to are:
Everybody tells us that (because of the collegiality of the Senate), if one of our Senators will oppose the expansion, it will not happen. So far Senator Salazar has taken a "wait an see", "let's work out a win-win arrangement between ranchers and the military" approach. Udall is running to fill a vacant Senate seat and appears likely to win.
Wes sponsored a bill in the Colorado legislature which was signed by the Governor. It withdraws the States consent to the feds to take land for this expansion.
There's a good documentary on YouTube on the subject.
Another place where you guys might be effective to weigh in is the Environmental Impact Study process. The NEPA person at Fort Carson who will send you a copy of the draft EIS is Robin Renn, robin.renn@us.army.mil
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Gad, I hate this legalistic stuff. Just to make a suggestion, however, consider the following. Any major action involving federal lands or Federal impacts on private lands does require any number of steps, mostly if not all involving public hearings. Similarly, such actions also require the requisite Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Statement and the development of a plan/program to deal with issues of concern. Now there are lots of fossils (real or traces and tracks) in lots of rocks, and since this appears to be rocks with dinosaurs, I assume the reocks are Mesozoic. If in the course of the EA and EIS process, the fossils are found to be significant, the Feds can declare the fossil bearing areas off limits--a lot depends on which agency will manage the resource. For example, no activity in the area of fossils is on option and the area can be designated an ACEC (Area of critical Environmental Concern) or an RNA (Research Natural Area), or as I noted above, just left alone. There is precedent for Defense to protect fossils. A significant elephant and ca,el trackway was discovered at White Sands, The DOD took steps to protect and not disturb the area, and even encouraged research. Similar actions and processes can take place with regard to cultural sites. indeed it may be required to conduct a 100% archaeological survey. Finally, the only real protection for fossils is collection; once exposed they erode away. Indeed, the usual reason fossils are found is that erosion has exposed them.
The planned expansion is going to affect more than just Picket Wire, if it goes through. I've been pushing the Picket Wire issue pretty hard, and a college instructor from Trinidad pointed this out: http://www.thislandisourland.org/people.html