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EXHIBIT 23A <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The South Taylor In -Pit Drilling Program will consist of drilling 36 drill holes (Please see <br />Exhibit 23A) in order obtain data to update and improve the South Taylor Geologic Model. All <br />drill holes proposed under this exploration program will be drilled within the confines of the <br />South Taylor Pit except several holes which will be drilled on the end wall of the South Taylor <br />Pit. The entire area proposed to be drilled occurs in areas that have already been disturbed by <br />mining and are included under Colowyo's current reclamation liability. Planned drill holes will <br />be drilled to approximately 20 feet below the G8 seam which is the lower most seam in the <br />mining sequence. The twenty feet of additional hole below the G8 seam is called the "rat hole", <br />and each rat hole will be plugged and sealed as outlined in Section II Sealing of Drilling Holes. <br />The proposed drill holes can be grouped into six different categories based on location and <br />required plugging procedures required for each individual drill hole. Additionally, these <br />categories distinguish between the approximate depth that mining activities will occur <br />(determined from the current mine sequence) and the approximate total depth of each drill hole <br />planned. Tables Exh. 23A-1 through Exh. 23A-5 outline these six categories based on seam <br />location and also provide hole diameter, total planned depth, and depth of the hole that will not <br />be mined through. The proposed depths for the drill hole and the rat hole are estimated and actual <br />drilling will fully define these depths. <br />II. SEALING OF DRILLED HOLES <br />Pursuant to Rule 4.07.2, plugging methods will include pumping heavy solids bentonite mud <br />through the drill stem from the bottom of the hole to the indicated depths presented on Tables <br />Exh. 23A-1 through Exh. 23A-4. Drill holes listed on Tables Exh. 23A-1 through Exh. 23A-4 <br />will be completely or partially mined through, and these holes will be reclaimed in accordance <br />with Section 2.05.4 in the approved permit application package (PAP). <br />Pursuant to Rule 4.07.3, drill holes ST -15-13 and ST -15-33 (see Table Exh. 23A-5) will be <br />plugged with bentonite mud and capped with concrete as these holes will not be mined through. <br />Concrete and water will be poured into the hole from ten feet to three feet below the surface and <br />the final three feet will be filled with soil. Drill hole ST -15-12 (see Table Exh. 23A-5) does not <br />require a concrete cap since it is not located on the natural surface. This drill hole will be <br />plugged completely by pumping heavy solids bentonite mud through the drill stem from the <br />bottom of the drill hole to the surface. The surface area of the drill hole will then be covered by <br />Exhibit 23A Revision Date: 05/26/15 <br />Revision No.: MR -141 <br />