Available for Public Comment October 2007! 

Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

The BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/Draft EIS) will be released for public review and 

comment. Five alternatives were developed and analyzed and we have completed Chapter 1: 

Purpose and Need, Chapter 2: Alternatives, Chapter 3: Affected Environment, Chapter 4: 

Environmental Consequences, Chapter 5: References, and Appendices A through K. 

To reach this point, public scoping was completed in 2002 and 2003. Five primary issues surfaced 

during scoping and were the focus of plan analysis: Cultural Resources, Grazing Administration, Fluid 

Minerals, Recreation, and Transportation. The Monument Advisory Committee met 28 times; 

developed Goals, Objectives, and Best Management Practices; and reviewed the Range of 

Alternatives. In addition, an Analysis of the Management Situation and a Reasonable Foreseeable 

Development Scenario for Fluid Minerals were completed. 

An extensive review process included the BLM Colorado State Office, BLM Washington Office, BLM 

San Juan Field Office (Monticello), National Park Service (Hovenweep National Monument), 

USFS-BLM San Juan Public Lands Center, the Colorado Historical Society, and the Colorado Division 

of Wildlife. 

It is important to remember the purposes of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Draft 

RMP are to: 

• ensure compliance with Presidential Proclamation 7317 that established the Monument; 

• protect the scientific and historic objects, as well as other resources, identified in the 

Proclamation; 

• establish guidance, objectives, policies, and direction for managing the Monument; and 

• address issues relating to management of the Monument as identified through agency, 

interagency, and public scoping efforts. 

The Proclamation states: 

Containing the highest known density of archaeological sites in the Nation... the Monument holds 

evidence of cultures and traditions spanning thousands of years...natural resources and 

spectacular landforms...rugged and dissected geology...and wildlife species...I proclaim 

for the purpose of protecting the objects identified above...Canyons of the Ancients 

National Monument. 

Therefore the Draft RMP emphasizes protection of the objects of the Monument, including 

cultural landscapes, prehistoric and historic cultural resources, wildlife, geological, and scenic 

resources. The Draft RMP objective is to develop an integrated plan that guides future land use 

decisions and project-specific analyses in the Monument. 

 Bureau of Land Management 

 Canyons of the Ancients 

 National Monument 

 Planning Newsletter #4 October 2007

BLM 
-2- 

The Planning Area 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is 

administered by the Bureau of Land Management and 

was established to protect cultural and natural resources 

on a landscape scale. The Monument covers 

approximately 165,000 acres of high desert in the 

southwestern corner of Colorado. It is about 50 miles 

west of Durango, 10 miles west of Cortez, and 12 miles 

west of Mesa Verde National Park in Dolores and 

Montezuma Counties. The Planning Area includes 

acquired inholdings, edgeholdings, and the Anasazi 

Heritage Center. The Monument contains the highest 

known density of cultural resource sites in the United 

States. It includes rich, well-preserved evidence of Native 

American culture, spectacular landforms, a wide variety of 

wildlife species, and unique recreation opportunities. 

The Alternatives 

The five alternatives described and analyzed in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS represent a 

reasonable range of potential future land uses for the Monument. The alternatives are 

constrained by the Presidential Proclamation and incorporate information received during the 

public scoping process. The five alternatives are: 

Emphasizes landscape-scale cultural resource values, i.e., communities, sites,

and isolated finds and includes tribal values, cultural resource protection, and s

natural resource protection and enhancement.

Alternative II 

Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e., communities and sites, and 

natural resource values, while providing for resource use and development. Alternative 

III 

Emphasizes cultural resource site protection, i.e., communities and sites, and 

natural resource values, while encouraging resource use and development. Alternative 

IV 

Emphasizes cultural resource values, i.e., communities and sites, and 

includes tribal values, cultural resource and natural resource protection s and 

enhancement, while providing for resource use and development. 

Alternative V 

Preferred 

Alternative 

Alternative I 

No Action 

Continuation of current management as specified in the 1985 San Juan/San 

Miguel RMP Record of Decision (ROD) and Amendments, the 1986 Anasazi 

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Management Plan, 

Department of the Interior and BLM Interim Management, and the Mail Trail 

Settlement Agreement. 
 - 3 - 

How to Access the Draft RMP/Draft EIS 

The Draft RMP/Draft EIS will be posted on our website: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/. 

CD copies will be made available to the public for personal use. In order to conserve natural 

resources, paper copies of the document are not being printed in bulk. Paper copies will be 

available for viewing during regular business hours at the following locations: 

 Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Anasazi Heritage 

Center), 27501 Highway 184, Dolores 

 Dolores Public Lands Center, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores 

 San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango 

 Dolores Public Library, 420 Railroad Ave., Dolores 

 Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park, Cortez 

 Mancos Public Library, 111 N. Main, Mancos 

 Durango Public Library, 1188 E. 2nd Ave., Durango 

How to Comment on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS 

Public comments are an essential component of a successful planning process and useful 

RMP. Written comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS will be accepted for 90 days after the 

Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register. Comments received during this time 

will be fully evaluated and considered in the development of the Final RMP. Open house 

meetings on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS will be held in the Colorado towns of Denver, Cortez, 

and Durango (see page 6 for schedule). The purpose of the open house meetings is to give 

the public an opportunity to discuss and comment on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. Comments may 

be submitted via the following methods: 

Website: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/ Fax: 970-882-7035 

Mail: Monument Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, (Anasazi 

Heritage Center) 

27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323

Although often misconstrued as a vote on the Preferred Alternative, the public comment 

process is most useful to the development of the Final RMP when comments specifically 

address aspects of the range of alternatives and/or the impact analysis. This allows BLM to 

integrate important information and viewpoints that strengthen all aspects of the Final RMP. 

Substantive comments often address one or more of the following: 

 New scientific information or data that would have a bearing on the analysis; 

 Errors in the analysis; 

 Misinformation that could affect the outcome of the analysis; 

 Requests for clarification; or 

 A substantive new alternative with a mix of allocations that differs from those under any of the 

proposed alternatives. 

Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Anasazi Heritage Center), 27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 

81323, and will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Before including 

your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, 

be advised that your entire comment–including your personal identifying information–may be made 

publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 

identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All 

submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 

representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their 

entirety. 
 - 4 - 

Comment Form 

Public comments are an essential component of a successful planning process and useful 

Resource Management Plan. Written comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS will be accepted 

for 90 days after the Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register. Comments 

received during this time will be fully evaluated and considered in the development of the Final 

RMP. 

Comments, including names of respondents, will be available for public review at the Bureau 

of Land Management, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Anasazi Heritage 

Center), 27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323 during regular business hours, Monday through 

Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., March 1 to November 1; 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., November 1 

to March 1, except holidays. 

All comments will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Before 

including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment–including your 

personal identifying information–may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals 

may ask us to withhold personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 

guarantee we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, or 

individuals representing them, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. 

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Draft RMP/Draft EIS 

COMMENT FORM 

Name(s): ________________________________________________________________________ 

Organization: ________________________________________________________________________ 

Address: ________________________________________________________________________ 

 ________________________________________________________________________ 

Telephone: ________________________________________________________________________ 

Email: ________________________________________________________________________ 

Comments: ___________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________________________________________ 
 - 5 - 

Monument Advisory Committee 

The Monument Advisory Committee has played an invaluable role in the planning process. 

The Committee’s Charter expired in the fall of 2006. All Committee member appointments, 

except the Dolores County representative, expired in late May 2007. The Committee’s Charter 

was renewed and 

nominations to reestablish 

the Advisory Committee 

were submitted in June 

2007. We anticipate that it 

will take several months to 

appoint representatives to 

the Advisory Committee. 

During this time, it is 

important to maintain the 

crucial role the Advisory 

Committee has played in 

ensuring public involvement 

and representation in the 

Monument planning 

process. Therefore, on July 

20, 2007, the Southwest 

Resource Advisory Council 

(SWRAC) agreed to 

establish a Canyons of the 

Ancients National Monument Subgroup. The Subgroup will continue the review function during 

the public comment period for the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. Canyons of the Ancients National 

Monument Subgroup members are: 

NAME CATEGORY OF INTEREST

Glenn (Kelly) Wilson SWRAC Liaison 

Gerald Koppenhafer Montezuma County Commission 

Cliff Bankston Dolores County Commission 

Carl Knight Tribal (Ute Mountain Ute) 

William Lipe Cultural Resources-Regional 

Mark Varien Cultural Resources-Local 

Chris Majors Livestock Grazing Permittee 

Robert Clayton Fluid Mineral Development 

Elizabeth Tozer Private Landowner 

Charles McAfee Public-at-large 

Howard Poe Public-at-large 

Al Heaton Alternate: SWRAC Liaison, Grazing Permittee 
 - 6 - 

Important Dates and Estimated Timeline for 

Completing the RMP/EIS 

EVENT DATE 

Federal Register Notice of Intent April 2002 

Public Scoping Period April 2002 to November 2003 

Analysis of Management Situation and 

Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario 2005 and 2006 

Alternative Formulation 2005 and 2006 

Prepare Draft RMP/Draft EIS 2006 and 2007 

Draft RMP/Draft EIS Available 

90-Day Public Comment Period Begins 

October 2007 when Notice Of 

Availability is published in the 

Federal Register 

SWRAC and SWRAC Monument Subgroup briefing Week of September 17, 2007 

SWRAC Monument Subgroup meeting October 19, 2007 

Durango Open House; La Plata County Fairgrounds November 13, 2007; 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 

Cortez Open House; Koko’s Conference Center November 14, 2007; 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 

Denver area Open House; Denver West Village Holiday Inn November 15, 2007; 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 

Cooperating Agency and Interested Party briefings Week of October 29, 2007 

Content Analysis Report summarizing Draft RMP/Draft EIS comments Spring 2008 

Final RMP/EIS Complete Spring 2008 

Governor’s (60 day) Consistency Review Summer 2008 

Record of Decision (ROD) Fall 2008 

Monument Planner Update 

Heather Musclow was hired as the Monument 

Planner in July 2006. She comes with an extensive 

natural resource background, including a Bachelors 

Degree in Wildlife Management from Humboldt 

State University and a Masters Degree in Biology 

from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. 

She has previously worked for several state 

agencies, private consulting firms, and the US 

Forest Service. Heather brings experience to the 

Canyons of the Ancients Monument planning 

process from leading numerous environmental 

analyses; landscape assessments; and 

collaborative planning efforts involving wildlife, 

watershed, range, fire, and recreation programs. 

BLM 

Canyons of the Ancients 

National Monument 

27501 Hwy 184 

Dolores, CO 81323 

FIRST CLASS MAIL 

US POSTAGE PAID 

BOULDER CO 

PERMIT NO. G-76