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3 r~ Commissioner Pinney stated that a check should be made of the RC&D proposed conservation projects in that area of the County. He asked that a check be made for the last 6 to $ years. This can be done by RC&D staff. Chairman Whiffed stated that Mr. Coleman should lock at the Environ- mental Impact Statement wihc list historical sites, sich as the CRaig House, the Kirkman Log House and in Durham County, the LeHigh Farm. Hal Minis stated that the State in their Natural Areas Program had identified a number of unique natural areas in the New Hope Basin. The Planning Department has a map of these areas. Commissioner Pinney stated that on New Hope treek, near the Store on Erwin Road, there is a rock formation which is special and unique.: Geooogy Classes from UNC use this area in their field work, and Mr. Pinney _ is sure the UNC Geology Department would know where this is located. Mr. Minis informed the Board that another area regarding the green belt is a tract of land adjacent to the natural area on the James Johnston tract. A year or so ago, negotiations were in process to donate the land to the N. C. State Forest Department. The land is east of the natural area and right in the path of •the proposed I-g0. Mr. Olive suggested that the Dean of the N. C. State Forest School may take an interest, since all have joined in on the fiber industry dis- pute. He added that with the Orange County Parks Reprots, the maps of 1974, the Growth Options Conference Report should build a good case. He asked further if Orange County, in addition to passing a resolution should write an official letter putting the Department of Transportation people on notice that further information will be forwarded, and that Orange County ask them to delay their decision until the information is submitted, or should we sit back and let them make the decision and then fight it? He added that it seemed to him that it would be better strategically to write a letter now and tell them that we have additional information which had been generated and we propose to add this to the record. To ask them to not make a decision for at least another sixty days. He stated that we have only recently learned that at least 12 people were given more time to submit their comments then the people at the public hearing. Those 12 individuals' comments were not.recarded and were given a special previlege to add anything to the record they wished to add. This was 30 to 60 days after the meeting was over. He stated that he felt Orange County had a right to request the same privilege. Commissioner Gustaveson stated that this particular issue raised the question of strategy which would need further consideration as to whether it is the best way to proceed. He added that it seemed to him that strategy had been started and that is to give notice to the State that Orange County will fight the issue if it comes through Orange County. The County Attorney stated that time had elapsed since the June, 1976 public hearing and he questioned the timing with respect to whether or not any events have taken place since that public hearing. There is information which we have that we would like to make available to them, but the Attorney is wondering if that information was available at the time of the hearing. Whether we discovered it or not is another question. Somethings which have been discovered since that date are the 200 acre subdivision, whether this natural area was considered, Orange County's Energy Report and the CIA Federal Energy Report which was submitted by President Carter. Mr. Olive stated that it was contradictory for one executive branch of a federal agency to promote energy conservation and other agency pro- mote the expediture of funds to consume energy. The County Attorney, Mr. Coleman, stated that in respect to when the people should be notified, one problem with notifying them early and advising them that there are additional things we would like them to con- sider is that this request could get lost in the administrative process, and we would never hear from it or the response would be bland. You want attention to be drawn to the request whiih should be as acute as possible. From their point of view, we want them to see this request bo be as importatn as possible. Whether this should be done early or late, the County Attorney stated that he did not know. The decision is sche- duled to be made by May 16, 1977. Mr. Olive, stated that he would be glad to write a letter requesting a delay without involving the Orange County Commissioners.