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. ~ () {p.. 2 . Memo. to: Commissioner of Reclamation, Subj: INT DES 74-32, Fryingpan- Arkansas Project, Colorado and mineralization along the western boundary of the Colorado mineral belt. Several mining districts with a history of signifi- cant gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc production occupy this area. Some claims ~ill be extinguished and some patented land acquired along the route of these improvements; resource development may be precluded by the proximity of tunnel or canal structures. No evaluation of this potential mineral resource involvement is attempted in the draft environmental statement. The greatest potential for mineral resource involvement is associated with dam and reservoir sites. There are six such sites in the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. Of these, the Ruedi and Sugar Loaf Dams are completed, and Pueblo Dam is under construction. Clear Creek Reservoir is an existing feature and will involve no addi- tional mineral resources, except extraction of onsite sand and gravel to "rehabilitate" the present dam. A study of mineral resources in the Pueblo Reservoir site was completed by the Bureau of Mines in 1964. This study concluded that mineral resource involve- ment at the Pueblo Reservoir site would be insignificant. A similar study was performed for the Twin Lakes Reservoir site and is appended to the draft environmental statement in Appendix A(l). Onsite s~nd and gravel will be committed to the project, but other mineral resource involvement will be minimal. . In order to satisfy adequately the requirements of the Nationsl EnviranWt=ui:a.l rulicy Act, ~::. :.eees2!!!.!:!!!.t t)f the mineral resource involvements of the collection system tunnels, the Mt. Elbert Forebay Dam, Mt. Elbert Canal, and the Lime Creek Intercept should be included in the environmental statement. The presence of mineral claims in the area of these proposed improvements and the history of mineral production from surrounding mining districts argue against the veracity of the blanket statement on page III-7S, (vol. 2), which asserts that, "No mineral deposits of economic or geologic value are known to occur in areas directly affected by the construction of the FAP." Data in this draft environmental statement are inadequate to support such a statement. We recommend that a suitable examination and evaluation be performed by objective and qualified personnel and that appropriate additions be made to the final environmental statement for the Fryingpan- Arkansas project. " -jL- LlY::" tJ~. ~omc:s .;:r,w.~ Director XI-260 .