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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Page 2 - 07 July 1998 <br />Letter to D. Trueman, Bureau of Reclamation <br />RE: Hopi Tribe's Comments On the Glen Canyon Dam Modifications To Control Downstream <br />Temperatures: Preliminary Draft Plan and Environmental Assessments. <br /> <br />Relying solely on the programmatic agreement to address all cultural resource concerns results in a <br />false sense of compliance and will inevitably lead to places or resources of traditional value to Native <br />Americans being adversely impacted. For example, the Havasupai Tribe has been invited to participate <br />in the programmatic agreement and the adaptive management program, but to date has chosen not to <br />take part. Yet, the Havasupai still have places and resources of traditional importance within the <br />Colorado River corridor that need to be addressed in this docwnent The Bureau of Reclamation <br />should make a concerted effort to consult with each of the Native American tribes to identify concerns <br />related to the operation of the proposed thermal modification structure on Glen Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />Another cultural resource issue that was not addressed in this section is the likelihood that the Glen <br />Canyon Dam is a potentially significant historic property that is eligible to the National Register of <br />Historic Places. Its construction and existence marks a significant period in the development of the <br />American west and the prominent role that the Bureau of Reclamation played. Similarly, the <br />controversy surrounding its construction played a key role in the development of the environmental <br />movement in the west. Finally, sites associated with the construction of the dam have already been <br />determined eligible for nomination to the National Register by the Bureau of Reclamation in <br />consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer. Constructing a thennal modification <br />structure on the Glen Canyon Dam should therefore be considered in tenns of its effect on the <br />characteristics and integrity that could make this dam potentially eligible to the National Register. <br /> <br />A similar comment is applicable to the section on Indian Sacred Sites in this document that was made <br />above regarding the treatment of traditional cultural resources under the programmatic agreement. The <br />programmatic agreement deals only with Register eligible properties and may not adequately address <br />the issues or concerns that are associated with Native American sacred sites. Moreover, the <br />programmatic agreement deals specifically with compliance issues relating to the National Historic <br />Preservation Act, as amended. Treatment of inadvertently discovered or intentionally excavated Native <br />American human remains is covered under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation <br />Act and is the responsibility of the federal land managing agency, the National Park Service. To <br />reiterate the above point, it is not wise to assume that all cultural resource or Native American <br />concerns are categorically addressed and adequately covered by the programmatic agreement. <br /> <br />Finally, the Hopi Tribe is concerned about extensive biological monitoring program that appears to be <br />at the base of successfully implementing the operation of this proposed project. It is unclear how such <br />a monitoring program would be supported. Is this monitoring as it is envisioned by the Bureau of <br />Reclamation going to be added to the responsibilities of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research <br />Center? If so, will there be additional funding to cover an expanding biological monitoring program? <br />The issue of funding should be addressed at the next Technical Work Group meeting. <br />