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• Cultural resources were sought as surface exposures to be characterized as sites, <br />districts, or isolated finds. Sites were defined as the locus of previous human activity at <br />which the preponderance of evidence suggests either one-time diagnostically interpretable <br />use or repeated use over time, or multiple classes of activities. This would include isolated <br />thermal features such as hearths, single element rock art panels, isolated human burials, or <br />loci exhibiting ground stone and/or flaked stone. Isolated finds aze generally defined as one <br />or more culturally modified objects not found in the context of a site as defined above. All <br />cultural resources such as open camps, lithic scatters, historic structures, and isolated finds <br />were recorded as they were encountered to standazds set by the BLM and the OAHP. <br />Sites were recorded using the following methods of mapping and note taking. <br />Mapping of site boundaries, and the location of tools and features was conducted using a <br />BLM certified Garmin GPS V unit, based on a centrally located datum. Site boundaries were <br />determined by the extent of surface artifacts and/or a protective buffer zone. One crew <br />member would map, while the other members took photographs and notes regarding the <br />sites' soil, vegetation, topography, geology, and cultural resouroes. Field notes and photo <br />negatives aze on file at Grand River Institute, while the photographs have been submitted to <br />the BLM. No diagnostic artifacts were found or collected or will be required to be curated at <br />the Museum of Western Colorado, a BLM curation facility in Grand Junction. <br />Study Findings <br />This portion of the report describes the findings and presents a discussion of site <br />significance evaluation. The field conditions were poor. Dense vegetation and steep slopes <br />made the survey difficult, however, as expected, cultural resources were encountered. Sites <br />SDT96 and SDTI24 (both historic habitation sites with log cabins) and SDT632 (the remains <br />of a mining operation) were revisited. The cabin sites had been initially field evaluated as <br />eligible (SDT96) and not eligible (SDT124) and the current revisit supports these <br />recommendations. Mining site SDT632 was found to contain significantly fewer cultural <br />remains than when initially recorded due to apparent reclamation activities and was field re- <br />evaluated as not eligible. The field inspection of the remaining project area identified and <br />newly recorded two apparently historic sites, SDTI537 (an animal containment pen that has <br />been field evaluated as not eligible) and SDT1538 (a lean-to/wickiup shelter that is evaluated <br />as need data). <br />Site Significance <br />The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) directs federal agencies to <br />ensure that federally-initiated or authorized actions do not inadvertently disturb or destroy <br />significant cultural resource values. Significance is a quality of cultural resource properties <br />that qualifies them for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP}. The <br />statements of significance included in this report are field assessments to support <br />