For Immediate Release: August 12, 2002

Scoping period extended for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Planning Process

“Scoping,” the first major step in developing the Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Monument), is well underway. Over the past few months, the Monument has been soliciting ideas and comments about the Monument, through the mail and the internet. In the near future the Monument will expand on these efforts, by hosting three public scoping workshops in Cortez, Durango and Denver, Colorado. The specific dates and locations of the workshops will be announced through the local media, mailings, Monument website, and Federal Register when determined.

The notices announcing the workshops will also identify a new deadline for submitting scoping comments, which will be 30 days after the last public scoping workshop. Scoping comments submitted on or before this new deadline will be most useful to the Monument during the development of plan alternatives. However, comments, suggestions and ideas will continue to be accepted and processed throughout the planning process.

Written comments should be sent to: Monument Planner, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, Colorado 81323. Comments may also be faxed to 970-882-7035 or e-mailed to: Colorado_CanmScoping@co.blm.gov. For more information contact Steve Kandell, Monument Planner at the Anasazi Heritage Center at 970 882-4811. Information about Canyons of the Ancients is also available on the monument website at: http://www.co.blm.gov/canm/index.html.