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<br />Introduction <br />This preliminary report summazizes the results of azchaeological investigations during the <br />spring of 1997 at the proposed Lorencito Canyon Mine, west of Trinidad, in Las Animas County, <br />Colorado. At the close of the 1996 field season, archaeological investigations remained incomplete <br />at several areas of the proposed mine (McKibbin et al. 1997). The 1997 spring field season focused <br />on completing investigations for facilities slated for construction later this year, including the coal <br />load out facility, P3 haul road, Rl/R2 haul road, rail spur, and Lorencito Canyon Road. <br />Archaeological investigations for the P3 portal and RI/R2 portal, also planned for construction later <br />this yeaz, were finished in 1996 and no further work was recommended (McKibbin et al. 1997). <br />Some of the 1997 field work focused on SLA7186, a historic Hispanic New Mexican site that will <br />be impacted by construction of the rail spur, P3 haul road, and realignment of the Lorencito Canyon <br />Road. McKibbin and Carrillo (1997) present the results of investigations at SLA7186. <br />The 1997 spring field season included additional survey along a realigned portion of the P3 <br />haul road, survey of the proposed rail spur corridor (and the proposed realignment of the Lorencito <br />Canyon road) where it extends outside of previously surveyed azeas, test excavations at several <br />newly recorded and previously recorded sites along the P3 haul road, test excavations at one site <br />along the rail spur corridor, and additional test excavations for site discovery at the load out facility. <br />The investigations reported here aze part of the proposed "1997 Work Plans" (McKibbin et <br />al. 1997:126-130). The 1997 spring field work has been conducted according to these plans, and all <br />evaluations and recommendations are made based on the treatment plan, research design and <br />discussion of National Register eligibility presented by McKibbin et al. (1997). <br />This document is summary in nature, designed to provide the review agencies with an early <br />synopsis of investigations and recommendations. A complete reporting of these investigations will <br />be in the annual report of 1997 investigations as proposed by McKibbin et al. (1997:122), to be <br />prepazed at the end of the 1997 field season. <br />Management Recommendations <br />Based on the results of investigations in 1996 (McKibbin et al. 1997) and the spring field <br />season of 1997, cultural resource clearance is recommended for the P3 portal, P3 haul road (new <br />alignment), Rl/R2 portal, Rl/R2 haul road, rail spur, and load out facility, with the exception of <br />those parts of the P3 haul road, rail spur, and Lorencito Canyon road realignment that will impact <br />SLA7186. The recommendation for cultural resource cleazance for the P3 haul road and R1/R2 haul <br />. road is contingent upon avoidance of certain areas within sites SLA7181 and SLA7208, respectively. <br />SLA7186 is recommended to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. <br />