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<br />"'~". -.. ~, <br />_[.1 <br /> <br />C..) "l ~,n <br />-'~ ""'" 't <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />"By adding the gorge as a conservation area," Campbell <br />explained, "we can meet National Park Service criteria for <br />national parks, without threatening existing uses like grazing <br />and recreation." A recent NPS study found that the resources <br />within the present monument boundaries do not contain "sufficient <br />diversity" to qualify the Black Canyon for redesignation as a <br />national park. Yet, off-road vehicle users, cattlemen, hunters <br />and fishermen want to continue using bordering lands without <br />restrictions that typically are applied in a national park. <br /> <br />"I realize that having the hearing on Sunday isn't ideal," <br />Campbell said, but he pointed out that Chairman Vento and his <br />staff are visiting other national monuments and parks in Western <br />Colorado, and their time is limited. <br /> <br />"Maybe holding a weekend event will give more people a <br />chance to find out what this proposal is all about," Campbell <br />said. "And we're all excited about inaugurating the new Montrose <br />Pavilion for this hearing." <br /> <br />Expected to give brief oral testimony at sunday's hearing <br />are representatives of: BLM and National Park service; county and <br />municipal governments; Montrose Chamber of Commerce; trailriders <br />and cattlemen associations; a river-guide enterprise; and Western <br />Colorado congress, Sierra Club and Wilderness society. <br /> <br />--30-- <br />