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METHANE DRAINAGE (MDVI') PROJECT PLAN - E Seam South Mains <br />Development Entries (24-May-OS) <br />PROJECT DESCRIPTION <br />The proposed project consists of drilling four (4) additional methane drainage wells <br />(MDWs) for the E Seam, South Mains Development Entries, in an area that is generally <br />located 7 to 10 miles east, and northeast of Paonia, Colorado. The azea is contained <br />within the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Grand Mesa -Uncompahgre <br />- Gunnison National Forest, Paonia Ranger District, Coal Methane Drainage Project, <br />Panels 16-24, Mountain Coal Company-West Elk Mine, Environmental Assessment <br />(February 2002). <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) is proposing to construct 4 pads and drill 4 MDW holes <br />in Section 28, of T.13S, R.90W, 6`h Principal Meridian, Gunnison County, Colorado. <br />Proposed drilling pads and access to the MDWs aze shown on the attached map and final <br />configurations will be field-fitted with the cooperation of the USFS. The cultural and <br />biological assessments will be conducted to address the access roads and pad locations. <br />The proposed project is within the current permitted coal mining azea on Federal Coal <br />Lease C-1362, held by Arch Coal Inc. The Proposed E Seam South Mains MDWs <br />surface maps at a scale of 1" = 600' and 1" = 200' depict the general locations of <br />proposed drill pads, potential methane drainage wells, existing roads, and road <br />improvements relevant to the mine permit and lease boundazies. In addition, a 1" = 1000' <br />map is provided to depict a larger perspective of the access routes in relation to other <br />mine features. <br />SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY <br />The elevations of the proposed borehole locations range from 7,820 ft. at drill hole pad <br />ESM-1 to 8,000 ft. at ESM-2. The terrain is comprised of steep slopes and mesa tops <br />formed within the Wasatch and Mesa Verde Formations and the colluvium and alluvium <br />layers of the slope debris. The principle drainages in this area are unnamed tributazies of <br />Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. The watercourses in the drilling area aze <br />intermittenUephemeral in nature and do not flow year-round. <br />GEOLOGY <br />The proposed Project would include drilling along the southeastern edge of the Piceance <br />Basin within the Somerset Coal Field, occurring on the Somerset U.S.G.S. 7 1/2-minute <br />quadrangle map. <br />Initial geological work, in this area was, completed by W. T. Lee (1912), who reported <br />his findings in, "Coal Fields of Grand Mesa and the West Elk Mountains, Colorado'' <br />