BLM ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT
FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT AROUND LOWRY PUEBLO
IN CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2007

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on a pre-decisional Environmental Assessment (EA) and unsigned Decision Record and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a proposal to reduce hazardous fuels on about 40 acres around Lowry Pueblo, within the boundaries of the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The thinning would be accomplished through the use of a hydro-axe and hand thinning. Limited pile burning may occur in non-sensitive areas to consume the thinned material. About 5 acres around the pueblo and picnic area would be treated with Plateau herbicide to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicide for cheatgrass control on a larger scale.

The Lowry Pueblo Area is identified as a wildlfire hazard area in the Montezuma County Wildfire Protection Plan. Approximately half the pinyon trees around the site are dead as a result of Ips beetle infestation. In addition, many of these trees have fallen over, resulting in increased fuel loading. The heavy fuel loading and arrangement of the fuels is conducive to a high-severity wildfire that would damage the cultural resources and ecology of the area.

The objective of the fuels reduction is to protect the cultural resources and interpretive facilities from high severity wildfire. A buffer of thinned vegetation around the area would reduce fire intensity and allow firefighters to safely and effectively protect the resource.

The Proposed Action conforms to the San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan, the Monument Proclamation, and the BLM Interim Management for All National Monuments.

Written public comments must be postmarked by August 13, 2007 and mailed to Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. No electronic or verbal comments will be accepted.

The pre-decisional EA, DR and FONSI are available on the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument website at: ww.co.blm.gov/canm/canmnepadocs.htm. Paper copies of the EA will be available at the Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, C0, and at the Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores.

For more information, contact Eric La Price, NEPA Coordinator, at the Dolores Public Lands Office at 882-6827.