National Trust for Historic Preservation President Richard Moe Endorses Agreement That Will Benefit Cultural Resources at Utah's Nine Mile Canyon
Posted January 5, 2010 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
Washington, D.C. (January 5, 2010) --The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has been involved in efforts to preserve cultural resources at Nine Mile Canyon for nearly ten years, issued a statement today praising the Programmatic Agreement being signed on Tuesday, January 5 by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Bill Barrett Corporation (BBC), State of Utah and two Utah counties. The Programmatic Agreement addresses the measures that BLM and BBC will take to mitigate the impacts on rock art and other cultural resources in Nine Mile Canyon of BBC's proposal to drill over 800 natural gas wells on the plateau above the canyon. The National Trust is signing the agreement as a Concurring Party
"Once listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, this agreement goes a long way toward ensuring that Nine Mile Canyon's stunning collection of cultural resources will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "The agreement is an example of a compromise that allows all sides to get much of what they wanted. The National Trust's top priority was to mitigate the harmful effects of dust generated by truck traffic through the Canyon, which was eroding scores of ancient rock art panels. We also wanted the BLM to conduct additional survey work so we can better determine the full extent of cultural resources in the Canyon, and develop interpretive signage so the public will be able to appreciate the historic significance of the rock art. The agreement ensures that both of these important measures will take place."
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
