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following year Johnson further described the geology of the Minnesota Creek area in USBM <br />Technical Paper 721. More recently, in 1989, C. R. Dunrud compiled a coal resources map of the <br />region (USGS Map C-115). In 1998 the Colorado Geological Survey published, “Availability of <br />Coal Resources in Colorado: Somerset Quadrangle, West-Central Colorado (CGS Resource Series <br />36)”. <br /> <br />The general stratigraphy of the area consists of members of the Mesa Verde Formation of the <br />Upper Cretaceous System underlying the Wasatch Formation of Tertiary Age. The Barren <br />Member of the Mesa Verde formation crops out lowest in the area with the overlying Ohio Creek <br />member exposed along many of the steeper slopes. Above the Mesa Verde, rocks of the Wasatch <br />Formation are exposed. The Upper and Lower Coal Members of the Mesa Verde Formation are <br />the major coal-bearing units in the area. The A (King), B (Somerset), and C (Bear) coal beds of <br />the Lower Coal Member and the D (Oliver), E (Hawks Nest), and the F-Seam coal beds of the <br />Upper Coal Member have all been mined within the North Fork Valley. <br /> <br />General dip in area of the methane drainage project drilling is 3 to 4 degrees to the northeast. <br />Stratigraphic displacements and faults are known to occur in West Elk Mine. Known geologic data <br />does not indicate that these faults are locatable on the surface. <br /> <br />WATER RESOURCES <br /> <br />The town of Paonia is situated about 10 miles west of the area and receives an average of <br />approximately 15 inches of precipitation annually. Given that precipitation increases as elevation <br />increases, the annual precipitation at the proposed well sites would be expected to be somewhat <br />higher than that received at Paonia. An estimated 75% of the annual precipitation occurs during <br />late winter and early spring, mostly as snowfall. June, July, and August are often the driest months. <br /> <br />Drainage from the well pads for the proposed project primarily enters the Deep Creek and Dry <br />Fork drainages that are tributary to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. No riparian, wetland or <br />stream habitat will be affected by drilling activities. The roads will be constructed in accordance <br />with USFS low-volume road requirements. <br /> <br />The alternate sediment controls used for the drill pads will consist of a slash, silt fence, erosion <br />control blankets, or straw wattles placed on the out slopes of the pad. The demonstration that the <br />alternative sediment control measures meet the limitations of Rule 4.05.2 and 4.05.5 are contained <br />in the attached SEDCAD results calculated for 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0-acre typical pad sites. The <br />SEDCAD modeling demonstrates that given the relatively small areas an anticipated discharge of <br />0.0 ml/l can be expected. Previous Mine Ventilation Borehole Pad experience shows that pad size <br />is dependent on number of holes drilled from the pad and depth of overburden that determines the <br />mudpit sizing, hence the four different pad size designs. The average pad size from the B Seam <br />MVB drilling was 0.495 acres. Mudpits when constructed will be in native soils and if constructed <br />on fill will be constructed on 3:1 side-slopes to meet the 1.56 factor of safety using the Gas Well <br />Pad Slope Stability Analysis (attached). <br /> <br />