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. ~ • <br />rrnn,, ~-~-,~M <br />C uncil on _- ~ ~ lr' I~ <br />H''~°~'~ III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />Preservation <br />The Otd Pwt Ofnce Hui4iing <br />1100 Penarylvanie.aveaue. ~M; *a09 <br />tAtytdnetoa, DC :oooa <br />Rtpty to ! :136 West Bayaud Avenue, =530 <br />Lakewood, Colorado 80226 <br />November 12, 199 i <br />Mr. Calvin Joyacr <br />Area. Manager <br />Bureau of Land Managetneat <br />701 Camino Dcl Rio <br />Durango, CO 81301 <br />REF: Grav¢I.i~Rning RNarnriorts al ;he Bose a{Sleeping Ute ,tlountuJn <br />Aear ~'lr. Jo}ner: <br />Recently we received :~everai calls from the public expressing concern that the BLM was allowing <br />pravzl nsinitlg operations oa BLM-administered lands near the base of Sleeping Ltte Mountain <br />outside Cortez. CO. This concern focused on BLM's alleged failure to conduct any analyses of <br />the pro}act's impacts, including consideration of the effects of the projcet for purposes of <br />Cornplying with Section ] 06 of the National Historic Presen~ation Act. <br />Based on subsequent conversations with your staff, it appears that these concerns are valid. <br />Apparently, the BLM has determined that because the B1.,~1 ovens only etuface rights, and not the <br />mineral rights to the property, which aro held in reservation, the ea~ttaction of gravel does not <br />require that $Ltif comply with Section 106 of the Act. To our knowledge, thu interpretation <br />conSicts with past BLM and Department of Interior interpretation. We do not agree with this <br />position or interpretation regarding $LM's obligations on BLb1 split.estate. <br />We urge the BLM to determine whether any mining-related actic7ties have tdreedy damaged any <br />ctIIttuttl properties in the project area, and take any steps necessary to avoid further damage. We <br />have recoived photographs which appear to demorutrate that recent road blading and exploratory <br />u'enchittg datttaged an archaeological property. Please initiate consultation with this offxe and the <br />State FTistoric Preservation O~cer immediately to resoh~e BLM's responsibilities in this matter. <br />