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6 <br /> permits to remain in compliance with the ESA, and new federal actions to take place and <br /> permits to be issued, during this period. <br /> To accomplish this objective, the Program Agreement describes the obligations of the parties <br /> during this three-year period. This is the major operative agreement of the Program <br /> Agreement, called the "Cooperative Agreement." Attached to the Cooperative Agreement are <br /> several documents: <br /> a milestones document, describing obligations of the parties during the three year <br /> Cooperative Agreement period; <br /> a water conservation/water supply document, describing studies needed to develop <br /> water for program purposes; <br /> the proposed program, describing water supply and reregulation projects to provide <br /> water to the habitat, and land, money and other contributions by the states and <br /> Interior; and <br /> a governance document describing how the program will be run. <br /> THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT <br /> The Cooperative Agreement describes what will happen during the three-year period pending <br /> ESA and NEPA analysis by the FWS. If the ESA and NEPA reviews are not completed in three <br /> ye.:rs and six months, the entire Cooperative Agreement, and all interim regulatory certainty <br /> for permittees,will terminate unless the Cooperative Agreement is extended by the signatories. <br /> Regulatory Certainity. During the three year Cooperative Agreement period, Colorado water <br /> users will have regulatory certainty under the ESA, as long as all specified activities are <br /> completed. <br /> Water users seeking permits or permit renewals for existing water related activities <br /> will continue to be able to operate their projects under the same interim conditions <br /> that several Front Range municpal water facilities have relied upon during the <br /> negotiation of the Program Agreement. These permittees will pay to the FWS an <br /> annual charge which will be used to buy habitat and water that will help bring <br /> Platte River flows toward the target flows. <br /> Water users seeking permits for new water related activities will also be assured of <br /> interim compliance with the ESA, by replacing the consumptive use of their water <br /> projects on an annual basis during the Cooperative Agreement period. <br />