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State of Colorado and Local Compliance: <br />• Dolores County Development and Land Use Regulation (Dolores County 2007) <br />• San Miguel County Land Use Code (San Miguel County 2010) <br />Other Regulations which May be Consulted for Guidance <br />• Best Management Practices (BMPs) as defined in Surface Operating Standards <br />and Guidelines for Oil and Gas Exploration and Development, Fourth Edition <br />(Gold Book) (USDI and USDA 2007) <br />• BLM Oil and Gas Onshore Orders 1, 2, and 6 <br />• Colorado Oil and Gas Commission Rules <br />Some of these federal and state programs are described more fully below. <br />1.7.1 Climate Change Policy <br />The federal government released the Global Climate Change Initiative and Policy Book <br />in 2002. The plan comprehensively addresses climate change and includes a goal to <br />reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. economy by 18 percent between 2002 and <br />2012. It also provides initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage <br />renewable energy resources development (U.S. Global Change Research Program 2002). <br />1.7.2 Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) <br />The ESA of 1973 provides for conservation of species that are endangered or threatened <br />throughout all or a significant portion of their range, as well the ecosystems on which <br />they depend. Under Section 7(a) (2) of the ESA, federal agencies must consult with the <br />USFWS on activities that may affect a listed species. <br />1.7.3 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) <br />Section 106 of the NHPA requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their <br />undertakings on historic properties through a mandated review process (relevant <br />regulations at 36 CFR 800). Section 106 of the NHPA also mandates that the Advisory <br />Council on Historic Preservation is given a reasonable opportunity to comment. <br />1.8 Identification of Issues <br />The RM Potash Exploration Project was posted on the BLM's NEPA Register and <br />Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA). A Notice of Scoping was also posted on the <br />BLM Newsroom web page on June 28, 2011 and a public scoping letter was mailed to 74 <br />addresses on June 24, 2011. A scoping meeting was held at the Dove Creek High School <br />Commons in Dove Creek, Colorado on July 12, 2011 to identify potential issues. Written <br />scoping comments were accepted via mail, e-mail, and fax resulting in a total of 15 <br />scoping letters. <br />RM Potash Exploration Project 8 <br />Environmental Assessment <br />