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~ III IIIIII~IIIIIIIII i DEN~/ER OFFICE PU6LIC FILE COPY STONE GFRgYEL PIT FILE: /l~-Y7-o&y 24600 COUNTY ROAD p SITE: Sfio~Q Ca,~el Prt DOLOREB, COLORgDO 81383 Telephoae ~970~ a68-2603 Division of Minerals and Geology UEC ? 5 1991 484 Tumer Drive, Building "F," Suite 101 Durango, Colorado 8130Rivi;;.: • .. „ ~ . , r:: ,x~. Attention: Wally Erickson Subject: 112 Application N4 M 97-089 Response to Public Comment - B. A. Bradley Dear Mr. Erickson: 8 December 1997 R~eived ~f C ~~ 199) oMsb~~e e~ 6 Geol °8y In reference to Dr. Bradley's comment letter of 4 November 1997 we have the following comments to clarify the situation. An important part of the authorization process to utilize Bureau of Land Management lands (in this case, for the surface estate only) is to inventory the cultural and historical resources per the requirements of the Federal Antiquities Act. Dr. Bradley must be aware of that requirement, however, he must be unaware of the inventorying that has been done for the proposed application site. Before exploration authorization to dig test pits was issued by the Bureau of Land Management, records were researched by Bureau archaeologists and a qualified staff archaeologist was provided to monitor exploration test pit excavations. Following that excavation activity on June 6, 1997, the Bureau has discovered that due to access road alterations previously employed, but not shown on the U.S.G.S. Quadrangle map of the area, a "listed" archaeological site was not properly identified during the exploratory test digging. Bureau staff archaeologists in conjunction with the Colorado Stare Historical Preservation Oj~ce are currently assessing the situation to determine if any damage was incurred to the archaeological resources, and to identify where mining activity should be avoided for the proposed operation. Regardless of the findings of that investigation please be assured that the applicant has followed, and is following the correct procedures for ~chaeological clearance of the site. Any changes in the mining plans mandated by those investigations shall be addressed in technical revisions or by permit revisions, as appropriate.