Indian Country

Salt Lake City, Utah (AP) Jan. 2010

Two advocates for Utah’s Nine Mile Canyon are objecting to an agreement aimed at safeguarding American Indian carvings and drawings near where a Colorado company wants to dramatically increase energy development.

Steve Tanner and Ivan White sent their objections to the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation recently.

The agreement signed during January by state and federal officials is meant to reduce truckers’ dust in the canyon and protect the rock art if energy development on the West Tavaputs Plateau – including 800 new natural gas wells – goes through.

Tanner and White say the deal doesn’t go far enough in protecting the art panels.

An ACHP spokesman says his agency will look at the pair’s objections but says it’s rare for such agreements to be changed after they’re signed.