2013-06-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - P2011012

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FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Environmental Assessment DOI- BLM- CO -S010- 2009 -0076 -EA RM Potash Exploration Project INTRODUCTION: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tres Rios Field Office has conducted an Environmental Analysis (EA) (DOI- BLM- CO -SO 10- 2009 - 0076 -EA) for a proposal to address issuance of potash prospecting permits and associated exploration drilling in the Egnar area located in western Dolores and San Miguel Counties. The EA considered a range of development alternatives, including the Proposed Action with design features, and No Action Alternative. FINDING NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS: I have reviewed the EA for the RM Potash Exploration Project (DOI- BLM- CO- S010 -2009- 0076 -EA), dated May 2013. After consideration of the environmental effects as described in the EA, I have determined that the Proposed Action (Selected Alternative), with the project design features (Section 2.2.8 of EA), including mitigation measures identified in the EA and outlined below, will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required. Mitieations from EA: Design Features, Environmental Protection Measures (EPMs), and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are included as part of the Selected Alternative listed in Section 2.2.8 of the EA. The measures below were developed to mitigate impacts resulting from the Selected Alternative that were not addressed as part of construction or operation design of the Proposed Action. These measures would reduce any remaining impacts. • if and when the Gunnison sage - grouse species is listed, the BLM would initiate consultation with the USFWS on the Proposed Action in accordance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. RM Potash may be required to stop activities in critical habitat until consultation is completed. Once consultation is completed, RM Potash would adhere to any additional conservation measures identified by the USFWS through the consultation process. (EA at 67). I have also considered the Council on Environmental Quality's criteria for significance (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1508.27), with regard to the context and the intensity of impacts described in the EA: Context: The Selected Action is located within San Miguel County, Colorado. although the proposed access to drill hole number five and drill hole number six is within or partially within Dolores County. Egnar, located in the west end of San Miguel County, is the only county community in close proximity to the Project Area. The economic activity in the project area is primarily agriculture, along with oillgas and mineral exploration and development, recreation, and tourism.