BLM ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON GRAZING PERMIT RENEWAL IN CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2006

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on an (EA) that evaluates the potential effects of renewing a permit for livestock grazing within the Aztec Canyon Allotment on public lands administered by the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The allotment covers 1,828 acres of public lands within the Monument boundaries.

A hydromower was used to remove decadent sagebrush and dead pinyon pine in the area two years ago. Last year, 140 acres of the treatment area were reseeded with native perennial grasses and shrubs. In order to facilitate the establishment of reseeding, the grazing permittee entered into a voluntary non-use agreement with the BLM and agreed to rest the allotment from grazing for a period of two growing seasons beginning 2006. BLM wishes to continue working with the permittee to ensure improved rangeland health in this allotment.

Written comments must be received by no later than Thursday, July 20, 2006. Comments should be addressed to Monument Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323.

Public comments received, including names and street addresses of respondents, may be published as part of the EA and other related documents. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review and disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

For more information, call the Anasazi Heritage Center at 970-882-5600.