Please accept and fully consider these comments on behalf of the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance

10 July 2007Bill StringerBureau of Land ManagementVernal Field Office170 South 500 EastVernal, Utah 84078Mr. Stringer:Please accept and fully consider these comments on behalf of the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance (CPAA). Founded in 2005, CPAA works to protect archaeological and historical properties on public lands throughout the West through sound scientific research into the causes and effects of adverse effects, through public outreach and education, and through cooperative projects with conservation and governmental entities. Our goal is to ensure that cultural resources are protected for future generations, for their scientific as well as aesthetic qualities. We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the Enduring Resources Saddletree Draw Leasing and Rock House Development Proposal Environmental Assessment (UT-080-07-671).The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) obligates the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect cultural, geologic and paleontological resource values (43 U.S.C. §§ 1701(a)(8) 1702(c)), whereas the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”) (16 U.S.C. § 470 et seq.) provides for enhanced consideration of potential impacts to these resources through a cooperative federal-state program for the protection of historic and cultural resources. In particular, Section 106 (16 U.S.C. § 470f) obligates the BLM to consider the effects of management actions on historic and cultural resources listed or ...