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found on a bench above Hubbard Creek and neaz a secondary water source (spring within a <br />small drainage), which assures a good water source. Also like others in the azea, it is situated <br />on a bench to reduce the threat of flooding. <br />The occupation of a remote rockshelter by Reuben Dove was an act to isolate himself, <br />and points to the lack offull-time occupation of the rugged country. Evidence of cattle <br />grazing in these mountains is apparent by their trails and by a corral and cowboy camp <br />recorded on the BLM portion of the lease lands. Fencing of the spring neaz the Dove Shelter <br />also indicates grazing of the azea. Ranching was one of the eazliest industries established in <br />the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison. Eazly land acquisition in the region appears to <br />have been by Cash Entry or Stock Grazing Desert Land Entry Patents. Many of the eazly <br />ones were relinquished, and these lands were later consolidated into lazger ranches. <br />Management Recommendations <br />The eligibility determination and consultation process is guided by Section 106 of the <br />NHPA (36 CFR 60, 63, and 800). Inventory to identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential <br />effects to cultural resources affected by an undertaking is the first step in the Section 106 <br />• process. Federal actions cannot be authorized until the Section 106 process is completed (36 <br />CFR 800.3). Final determinations ofNational Register eligibility and effect should be sought <br />from the controlling federal agency. The actual adverse effects due to subsidence can not be <br />determined as part of this study. Prehistoric sites SDT1326 was field evaluated as need data <br />and testing is recommended should there be potential adverse effects from the proposed <br />mining operations. <br />As duected by the new 36 CFR800 regulations, this inventory included the seazch for <br />relevant traditional cultural properties. Based on the files search, field survey, and this <br />researchers personal knowledge, no such communities exist within the project area. <br />Paleontological Assessment <br />Fossils aze non-renewable and relatively raze resources (except for microfossiLs and <br />those that make up the energy minerals) with significant scientific, educational, commercial <br />and recreational values. Fossils on federal lands are managed for their scientific, educational <br />and, where appropriate, recreational values. Geological formations on BLM lands have been <br />categorized for management purposes to indicate those that are required to have intensive <br />inventories. A Category I formation is one that has previously yielded a high number of <br />fossils and is considered scientifically significant. The Mesaverde Formation in this region has <br />a low occurrence of fossils and does not qualify as "Category I," therefore an intensive survey <br />• is not required. Also, the lack of surface exposures ofthe Mesaverde Formation throughout <br />most of the project's 1360 acres renders its survey for paleontological resources unnecessary. <br />