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~(,-aDo~-aa~ <br />~~~ ~ ® PQabody <br />S~.y ~ ~~ <br />olY1S10n of Minerals and Geology <br />Juniper Coal Co. <br />29515 Routt County Road p27 <br />Oak Creek, CO 80467 <br />970.879.3800 <br />August 31, 2005 <br />Mr. James Burnell <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />RECEIVE® <br />SEP 0 6 2005 <br />Re: Juniper Coal Company -Notice of Intent to Explore <br />Deaz Mr. Burnell: <br />Division ~f Minerals and Geology <br />Juniper Coal Company (JCC) is submitting this Notice of Intent (NOI) to provide for exploration <br />access, drill pad development, drilling and sampling of up to three coreholes, and subsequent <br />reclamation of the associated exploration disturbance in an area designated as the Big Elk <br />property, as shown on the accompanying maps. The proposed exploration activities will provide <br />JCC with important geologic and coal quality information needed to assess coal recovery <br />potential and economic feasibility for possible future mining of coal reserves associated with the <br />Big Elk property. <br />This NOI application includes the following: <br />• Parts I-III of the CDMG NOI form and corresponding explanatory text <br />• Three (3) maps illustrating the proposed exploration areas <br />The proposed 2005 exploration program involves: <br />• Construction of three (3) drill pads (each approximately 150 x 150 fr) <br />• Completion, sampling, and geophysical logging of 3 coreholes <br />• Abandonment (plugging and sealing) of the coreholes and reclamation of the associated <br />exploration disturbance <br />The proposed exploration locations have all been previously disturbed by surface coal mining <br />operations (Hayden Gulch Mine), so no additional cultural resource clearances aze required. <br />Review of the proposed locations by the Colorado Division of Wildlife did not identify any <br />potentially impacted resources requiring avoidance or specific mitigation measures (refer to <br />accompanying documentation). <br />It is not anticipated that any road construction will be required to access the sites since the <br />proposed activities will occur during the period August through October, when favorable ground <br />conditions prevail. Reclamation of exploration disturbance areas will involve plugging and <br />sealing the coreholes, allowing the mud pits to dry-out and then backfilling the pits, regrading the <br />drill pads, replacing windrowed topsoil, and reseeding the areas. Dependent on location and <br />aspect, one of three reclamation seed mixtures (pastureland, cropland, or rangeland/wildlife) will <br />be used. Selection of the appropriate seed mixture will be based on the pre-disturbance <br />