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GCC Energy, LLC <br />along some of the exploration area canyons. No drill sites or access routes are proposed within any <br />canyons with potential MSO habitat. Exploration drilling activities are planned for fall 2014, thereby <br />avoiding the sensitive breeding period (May thru August) when this owl may be present in the area. <br />National Register of Historic Places and; Known Cultural or Archaeological Resources <br />PaleoWest Archaeology conducted a file search of the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic <br />Preservations' online COMPASS records for the township, range, and section locations in which the 24 <br />new drill holes are proposed. No previously recorded sites were found in proximity to any of the proposed <br />drill hole locations or access routes. Cultural class III surveys were conducted April 16, 17, and 29, 2014. <br />All proposed drill site locations were moved to avoid any cultural resources. <br />3482.1 (a) (3) (iv) Typical Drilling Methods and Activities that May Occur During the <br />Exploration, Reclamation, and Abandonment of Operations including, but not limited to - <br />(A) The types, Sizes, Numbers, Capacity, and uses of equipment for drilling and blasting, <br />and road or other access route construction <br />The 24 exploration drill holes would be rotary -drilled; nominally 5 to 6 inches in diameter to <br />predetermined core points. This predetermined zone will be cored by conventional 3 -inch coring methods. <br />Drilling will be done with air and water injection, or water with synthetic polymer lubricant. Cutting pits <br />would be necessary at all locations and would be drilled by conventional methods. <br />Drilling will be accomplished with a truck -mounted core rig, accompanied by a water truck typically of a <br />3,000 -gallon capacity. When necessary, a flat-bed service truck and smaller pickup trucks would also be <br />required for service and transportation to and from the drill sites. Water would be provided to the drill <br />sites from the mine water supply. <br />Some or all of the holes may be geophysically logged. The equipment necessary for such work is <br />typically mounted in a full-size Suburban -type 4X4. If only oil -field equipment is available, larger trucks, <br />similar in size to a 3,000 -gallon water truck, may be required. <br />Ten of the drill sites (GCC -14-02, 03, 07, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, and 24) would require construction of <br />new/temporary access routes. All access routes would include an approximate 12 -foot -wide travel surface <br />and would be traveled via overland travel (no blading/grading required). Existing access road may require <br />normal maintenance to access sites, which may include use of a grader, dozer, or backhoe to allow for <br />passage of the project equipment. Road maintenance would not exceed 12 feet in width. Proposed <br />new/temporary access routes to the drill sites would account for 3.06 acres of disturbance. Road work and <br />drilling is planned for late Fall 2014. <br />(B) Excavated Earth, or Debris; Disposal Activities <br />The anticipated activities for the proposed drill program include replacement of drill cuttings, cores into <br />the drill hole (with the exception of the lab analysis portion), and sealing of the drill hole with an <br />approved cement. Topsoil would be replaced over the drill hole location, and tracks would be raked or <br />brushed to remove obvious signs of activity; cut brush would be scattered across the disturbed area. No <br />blading/grading would be required for construction of the access routes. Vegetation removed for overland <br />travel would be replaced and areas re -seeded where necessary. <br />---------------------------------------- -- ------ <br />Federal Coal Exploration Plan <br />May 2014 <br />7 <br />