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<br />.i <br />OnZjgS <br /> <br />,. <br /> <br />Management Prescription #1 and 2: (Boundary Adjustment, Identifying Land Use Priorities): <br />Neither of these proposed Management Prescriptions would affect air quality. <br /> <br />Management Prescriptions #3 and 4: (NSO for oil and gas leasing, LandlMineral Withdrawal): <br />These twO proposed Management Prescriptions would limit development activity in the proposed <br />SRN,lA and would help maintain air quality. Possible fugitive dust from surface disturbing <br />activities would not occur. <br /> <br />CULTURAL RESOURCES <br /> <br />Affected Environment: <br />Colorado's Rivers have long been used as relatively easy travel corridors through the mountains <br />and plains by prehistoric native americans, historic trappers, miners and settlers. Trails followed <br />the rivers and where terrain allowed, camp sites fonned that were often used repeatedly <br />extending back several thousands of years. Later, some trails became roads and railroad beds. <br />The Colorado River is no exception, with a corridor rich with cultural resources and a focal point <br />of regional history. Numerous culrural sites have been recorded along the upper river corridor. <br />Prehistoric sites include camps, lithic scatters, eagle traps and vision quest locations. fustoric <br />sites include structures and artifacts related to early mining, railroad building and ranching. The <br />best known prehistoric site, the Yarmony Pit House, is the oldest known prehistoric habitation in <br />Colorado and dates to 6,200 years before present. <br /> <br />Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: <br />Management Prescription # I (Boundary Adjustment): Extending the boundaries of the SRMA <br />would not impact cultural resources. <br /> <br />- <br />Management Prescription #2 (Identifying Land Use Priorities): Identifying the majority of the <br />land in the SRMA with a recreation priority may lead to detrimental impacts to cultural <br />resources. The "build it and they will come" syndrome would likely create increased numbers of <br />visitors, and greater impacts to cultural sites and artifacts from theft and vandalism. The <br />cumulative effects from repeated casual use could also impact cultural sites if informal trails and <br />camp sites increase in number and use. Sites containing surface artifacts and structural elements <br />are particularly vulnerable to theft and vandalism. Mitigation for these impacts should be <br />addressed in future river management plans that provide cultural site mitigation as part of <br />ongoing effoT1S to protect and study these sites, as well as providing the public a broad and <br />interesting recreational experience. <br /> <br />Any future developments in the SRMA would be evaluated in separate environmental <br />assessments and require compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, <br />regardless of land use priority. Compliance would require cultural inventory to identify cultural <br />sites that could be impacted by development. Cultural sites would be recorded and evaluated for <br />eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. Sites would either be avoided or mitigated. <br /> <br />Management Prescription #3 (NSO for oil and gas leasing): Although there is little apparent <br />potential for oil and gas development within the SRMA, there would likely be both positive and <br />negative impacts under this management prescription. On the positive side there would be no <br />new ground disturbance for developing well pads and access roads, and thus a reduced likelihood <br /> <br />11 <br />