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the circulation of cuttings to the surface. If air and foam prove to be an insufficient medium, or if <br />lost circulation becomes a problem, drilling mud and lost circulation materials will be used. <br />The core retrieved from the hole will be approximately 3 inches in diameter although smaller <br />diameter core (1 7/8") may be used in some instances. The outer diameter of the cored portion of <br />the hole will be 5 inches or less. <br />Table 1 depicts the estimated depths for each of the six proposed holes in the exploration area. <br />Modification of Drill Holes to Surveillance for Water Levels <br />MCC proposes converting three of the exploration holes into ground water monitoring holes to <br />test for quantity and quality of ground water (if any). The proposed holes, depth of completion, <br />and seam or formation to test are listed in Table 3. <br />Drill Hole Abandonment Methods <br />The drill hole plugging method described in 43 CFR II 3484.1(a) will be used for all holes not <br />otherwise being developed into ground water monitoring wells. Each hole will be plugged with <br />cement slurry through mineably thick coal beds and aquifers for a distance of at least 50 feet <br />above and below (see Figure 3). The rest of the hole will be filled with an approved bentonitic <br />• completion mud or gel, cuttings, or cement to within 10 feet of the surface. A 10-foot surface <br />plug will be set, and a brass tag or monument mazking the drill hole I.D. will be cemented atop <br />the surface plug. Surface casing will be cut off at or just below the level of the drill pad, <br />allowing for future location and identification of the drill hole. <br />Reclamation Plan <br />Reclamation activities will follow the completion of each hole as closely as possible. <br />1. Upon completion of drilling activities at a given site, all debris, trash, and drilling related <br />equipment will be removed from the site. <br />2. When the mud pit is sufficiently dry, it will be filled with stored subsoil material and <br />compacted to minimize any settling. All remaining subsoil will be redistributed on and <br />azound the drill pad with a backhoe and/or bulldozer to achieve as closely as possible, the <br />original contour of the site. <br />3. Stored topsoil will be distributed as evenly as possible over the disturbed pad azea. <br />4. The entire drill pad azea will be re-seeded using the following seed mix, which has been <br />approved by the USFS for drill sites in this area. <br />• <br />12 <br />