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Overland flow of the drill fluids will be directed into the slurry pit as will most precipitation runoff. <br />The drill pads will typically be reclaimed as soon as possible after drilling. <br />Where roadwork is required to widen or level the roadway, the amount of material disturbed can <br />be significantly reduced in volume by limiting the soil material removed to only a few inches in <br />depth. This method leaves some topsoil in place while creating an adequate reserve for <br />redistribution, without significantly disturbing the major root systems of the existing grasses and <br />shrubs. In these areas, care will be taken to minimize traveling the roads when wet to avoid causing <br />excessive rutting. <br />Methods and Equipment for Drilling <br />Rotary drilling and coring on each site will be completed using a rubber -tired truck -mounted <br />drilling rig. To aid in the protection of the hydrologic balance and protect other resources the <br />company will utilize as small a drill rig as can safely and successfully complete the job. In doing <br />so, the requirements for access road and drill site disturbances are lessened. Support equipment <br />may consist of one or two water trucks, one rig -up truck, a pipe truck, flatbed trailer, one or more <br />air compressors, and/or boosters, a supply trailer and three 4 x 4 pickups for the drill crews and <br />company representatives. This assembly is generally referred to as a "drilling unit". One drilling <br />unit is anticipated during the drilling project. <br />Water for drilling operations will either be pumped or trucked to the sites or obtained from one or <br />more of the stock watering ponds located nearby. Pumping the water used in the drilling process, <br />if possible, will minimize water truck traffic on the temporary access roads thereby minimizing <br />surface disturbance. The use of these water sources will be approved by the agency or party owning <br />the water rights prior to their use. In the event stock ponds are utilized, minimum water levels will <br />be established to ensure sufficient water is left for stock and wildlife. Redevelopment of stock <br />watering ponds within proximity to the exploration sites will provide short-term storage for drilling <br />operations and long term use for wildlife and livestock. Removal of drill cuttings in typical drilling <br />conditions allows the use of air -foam and water as the circulation medium. Water consumption is <br />estimated at 5500 — 8500 gallons per hole (0.017-0.026 acre feet). <br />Upon hole completion, one truck mounted geophysical logging unit will be used at each hole <br />location. If requested, Ark Land LLC will retain in its files all drill and geophysical logs and all <br />un -analyzed drill cores for at least 1 year, and will make them available for inspection by an <br />authorized officer. <br />Estimated Size and Depth of Holes <br />Drilling conditions are variable in the exploration area. The initial diameter of each drill hole will <br />be 12.0" to allow for the placement of approximately 100 feet of 9 5/8" surface casing to the top <br />of competent bedrock. This casing is centered and cemented in-place from the top of the hole. An <br />8 3/4 " hole will be rotary drilled to core point (50 ft. above the uppermost mineable seam). This <br />rotary hole may or may not be cased and cemented with 7" steel casing dependent on ground <br />conditions and to maintain hole integrity. A 6" hole is drilled to retrieve core samples of the coal <br />zones including strata above and below the coals. The primary drilling medium will be compressed <br />air with mist/foam injection to aid in the circulation of cuttings to the surface. If air and foam <br />prove to be an insufficient medium, or if lost circulation becomes a problem, drilling mud and lost <br />circulation materials will be used. <br />9 <br />