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• mining activity in the valley, the Denver and Rio Grande 4lestern Railroad <br />informed the Highway Department of their plans to increase the number of <br />their tracks and facilities along the "forth Fork. They requested that the <br />highway be moved from the existing railroad right-of-way. The economic <br />development in the valley also naturally created an increase in traffic, <br />especially in trucks through the town of Hotchkiss, and it became apparent <br />that a study should be made to remove this heavy and noisy traffic from the <br />center of town. <br />As a result of the above reasons, the Colorado Department of Highways <br />has taken the following actions: Delta Aerial Surveys was retained in June <br />of 1975 to accomplish the photographic mapping of the area between Hotchkiss <br />and Somerset. On September 19, 1975 the Department of Highways applied for <br />• Federal aid for the project. A coordination letter was mailed on October 1, <br />1975 requesting input related to the project from Federal, State and local <br />agencies as well as from the general public. An informal public meeting <br />was held on October 30, 1975 to further acquaint all interested parties with <br />the proposed facility. In August of 1976, Meheen Environmental Consultants <br />was retained to make an environmental assessment of the project and to assist <br />in the preparation of Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. <br />On January 11, 1977 the Colorado Department of Highways held an informal <br />public meeting on the project in Paonia, Colorado. Approximately 200 citizens <br />attended. The purpose of this meeting was to acquaint everyone with the <br />progress being made on the project. Maps showing various proposed alterna- <br />tives were shown to the public and an informal question and answer period <br />• concluded the meeting. <br />