Lawsuit Over Gas Drilling in Nine Mile Canyon Leads to Settlement Including Major BLM Policy Change

Lawsuit Over Gas Drilling in Nine Mile Canyon Leads to Settlement Including Major BLM Policy Change
A coalition of historic preservation and conservation groups announced yesterday that they settled a lawsuit with the Bureau of Land Management filed in the summer of 2008 challenging the BLM’s approval of 30 natural gas wells in the Nine Mile Canyon region of Utah. Under the Bush administration, the BLM approved these wells using a loophole established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 known as ‘statutory categorical exclusions.’ Thousands of other oil and gas wells were approved across the western United States using this loophole. The improper use of these statutory categorical exclusions often permitted development that ignored impacts to the environment, historic properties, and other important resources. http://wilderness.org/content/historic-preservation-and-conservation-groups-settle-suit-over-blm-approvals-natural-gas-wel

Excavation of Los Angeles La Plaza Cemetery Raises Troubling Historic Preservation Issues
L.A. has flunked another history test. Not the kind with questions about George Washington and the Constitution. This was a test of our ability to protect our local history — specifically one particular patch of land where many, if not most, of L.A.’s founders were buried. Now the long rest of some of those early Angelenos has been disturbed. Bones from one of the city’s early cemeteries were dug up by accident during the construction — ironically enough — of a history museum. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tobar-20110121,0,1157734,full.column and also see http://egpnews.com/?p=22842,and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/14/la-plaza-de-cultura-y-art_n_809404.html

Excavation of the La Plaza Cemetery Halted
Officials with the under-construction La Plaza de Cultura y Artes halted excavation on the former camposanto area of the project Friday afternoon. The move followed protests from groups concerned that human remains found at the site during digging may belong to Native Americans. Since late October, remains have been found on what will become the outdoor plaza for the $20 million center at 501 N. Main St.; the excavation is taking place at the site of a former Catholic cemetery. http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2011/01/28/news/doc4d30da67198bc622457140.txt

Archaeology Café (Tucson) – Telling the O’Odham Side of History in the Pimería Alta
The next Archaeology Café will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 6:00 p.m., at Casa Vicente in Tucson. Dr. Dale Brenneman will lead a panel of scholars working on the O’odham–Pee Posh Documentary History Project. The project introduces an indigenous voice previously absent from the historical literature by including Tohono O’odham scholars in the editing process. The panel will discuss its collaborative approach, presenting information on the structure of the O’odham consultation process and various ways in which the project benefits both the O’odham and the scholarly communities. For more information on the February 1 Café, including location, see https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/2010/08/30/telling-the-oodham-side-of-history/

Sliver City a Semifinalist for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2011 Great American Main Street Award
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., recently announced that the Silver City MainStreet Project has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists from across the country for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2011 Great American Main Street Awards. “Just being chosen as one of the 10 best cities in the country is a great honor, particularly because no New Mexico community has ever made it this far,” said Nickolas Seibel, Silver City MainStreet manager. “Of course, we’re planning on actually winning the award, and to make that happen, we’ve got a lot of work to do in the next two weeks.” http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_17213336?source=most_emailed

Petroglyph Vandal Sentenced to $10,000 Fine
Ganey was caught last summer soon after not only scratching his first name into a rock wall along the Colorado River but doing so on a large panel of prehistoric petroglyphs. An alert tour guide noticed the new name on the rock, and two rangers for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, who had just been at the site, took immediate action.
http://www.azdailysun.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_1a340f5b-95c3-5242-98c3-11ecf0d13d37.html

Colorado Preservation Conference Will Celebrate 5 Protected Places of the Past
Events such as Colorado Preservation Inc.’s annual Saving Places 2011 conference, beginning Wednesday, largely focus on arming preservationists with the tools they need to go to battle on behalf of old buildings. But this year, organizers also plan to celebrate five successfully restored sites. http://www.denverpost.com/rss/ci_17231041?source=rss#ixzz1CXn7D5iU and http://coloradopreservation.org/

Training Opportunity in Conservation of Earthen Architecture
The upcoming TICRAT (International Workshop for the Conservation and Restoration of Earthen Architecture) Workshop will be held in Baja California, March 27-April 1. Since 1994, the binational TICRAT workshops have been disseminating and applying traditional skills in adobe and plaster construction techniques to communities throughout the American Southwest and the northern states of Mexico.  Recently, TICRATs have been integrated into the larger Missions Initiative, based at the University of Arizona, as a means to address conservation needs at the hundreds of Spanish Colonial mission sites throughout this region (for more information on the Missions Initiative, see www.missions.arizona.edu).  Anyone interested in registering for TICRAT – Baja California workshop should contact R. Brooks Jeffery at http://www.drachmaninstitute.org Registration is limited to 30 and unfortunately, scholarships will not be available. https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/ticrat_2011.pdf

Tour Opportunity (El Malpais) – Ancients Draw & Rocks Speak
Rock art is the planet’s most prolific and most endangered art according to a recent U.N. study. Our destination in El Malpais NCA is the 1st half of the 13th century. The hike is a moderately easy 4 miles at an inquirer’s pace.  The mid point is the Aldridge Petroglyphs, a regional gem among rock art.  Saturday, 10 AM, February 12th, 2011.  1st the films: “Chaco” and “Visit with Respect” at the Ranger Station, then caravan 20 miles south to the 4 hour hike.  505.280.2918 https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/sat/aldridge_20110212.doc -MS Word Document

Photography & Tour Opportunity at Hueco Tanks
A Moonlight Photography Tour will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, February 18 at Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site, 6900 Hueco Tanks Road #1, El Paso, TX 79938.  Craig Copelin, an experienced photographer, will begin with a brief presentation at the park’s amphitheater before the group hikes to picturesque locations under a full moon.  Participants should dress for cold weather, wear sturdy hiking shoes, and bring their cameras, a tripod, and a headlamp or flashlight. Reservations are required for the tour.  There will be a $2 activity fee for participants ages 5 and older.  Call 915-857-1135 or 915-849-6684 for information and reservations.

Thanks to Richard Ciolek-Torrello for contributions to today’s newsletter.