Sen. Bennet asks Army to drop Piñon Canyon appeal

DENVER • Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is asking the Army not to appeal a court ruling that rejected its plans to step up training at a disputed site in southeast Colorado.

The Army has appealed a Sept. 8 federal court ruling that said the Army didn't adequately assess the environmental effects of more training at the Piñon Canyon site.

Bennet wrote Attorney General Eric Holder and Army Secretary John McHugh on Tuesday, asking them to drop the appeal.

Bennet says the appeal "sends a hostile message" to farmers and ranchers who are fighting a proposal to enlarge the site.

Officials at Fort Carson, whose soldiers use the site, didn't immediately return a call.

The Sept. 8 ruling dealt only with the Army's plan to add training days, not the proposal to add land.