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24HGIE4SXC Project Plan Minor Revision 327- Revision Page 3 of77 Mesa Verde, rocks of the Wasatch Formation are exposed. The Upper and Lower Coal Members of the Mesa Verde Formation are the major coal-bearing units in the area. The A (King}, B (Somerset), and C (Beaz} coal beds of the Lower Coal Member and the D (Oliver), E (Hawks Nest), and the F-Seam coal beds of the Upper Coal Member have all been mined within the North Fork Valley. General dip in azea of the methane drainage project drilling is 3 to 4 degrees to the northeast. Stratigraphic displacements and faults aze known to occur in West Elk Mine. Known geologic data does not indicate that these faults aze locatable on the surface. WATER RESOURCES The town of Paonia is situated about 10 miles west of the area and receives an average of approximately 15 inches of precipitation annually. Given that precipitation increases as elevation increases, the annual precipitation at the proposed well sites would be expected to be somewhat higher than that received at Paonia. An estimated 75% of the annual precipitation occurs during late winter and early spring, mostly as snowfall. June, July, and August are often the driest months. Drainage from the well pad for the proposed project primazily enters an unnamed tributary to Sylvester Gulch that is tributary the North Fork of the Gunnison River. No riparian, wetland or stream habitat will be affected by drilling activities. The alternate sediment controls used for these drill pads will consist of a slash, silt fence or straw wattles placed on the out slopes of the pad. The demonstrations that the alternative sediment control measures meet the limitations of Rule 4.05.2 and 4.05.5 aze contained in the attached SEDCAD results that were run for 1.0 acre typical pad site. These calculations are in TR-101 and other previously submitted documents. VEGETATION Vegetation communities in the project area include: Mountain shrub (dominated by Gambel oak), Aspen, Gambel oak, Spruce-Fir, Douglas fir and Grass/forbs. Vegetation and reclamation at previous MDW sites is described in a document titled, "Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine 2004 Reclamation Photograph Project", and Mountain Coal Company's, "Annual Reclamation Report, November 1, 2004", completed by Michael Wazd Outdoors. Additional vegetation information is contained in the attached report entitled, "Box Canyon West Methane Drainage Wells, Wildlife Habitat Evaluations and Inventory for T&E, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species" prepazed by Michael Ward Outdoors and Monazch & Associates dated June 2005.