FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 9, 2007

Open Houses to be Held for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Draft Plan

Open house meetings are scheduled in Durango and Cortez next week to allow the public to discuss with agency representatives the recently released Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Open houses are scheduled for:

• Tuesday, November 13, 2007
  LaPlata County Fairground Meeting Rooms
  6:30 - 8:30 p.m
  2500 Main Avenue, Durango, Colorado

• Wednesday, November 14, 2007
  Koko’s Conference Center
  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
  2121 East Main
  Cortez, Colorado

Participants will be able to view the draft plan at the meeting and sign up to receive it on CD via U.S. mail (in order to conserve natural resources, paper copies of the document are not being printed in bulk).

The open houses will offer information tables covering the different management scenarios proposed by the draft alternatives for recreation and transportation, cultural resources, fluid minerals, and grazing allotments. Comment forms will be available at the meeting, and can be filled out that evening or mailed in later.

Written comments will be accepted until January 30, 2007 via:

• Project Website: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/
• Fax: 970-882-7035
• Mail: Monument Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
  27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323

The draft plan may be reviewed on the project website at:

• http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/

Hard copies are available for viewing during regular business hours at Bureau of Land Management offices in Dolores and Durango, and at public libraries in Dolores, Mancos, Cortez, and Durango.

For more information or to request a copy of the plan, contact the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument - Anasazi Heritage Center at 970.882.5600.