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runoff and associated suspended sediment from the drill-pad will be controlled and contained by a <br />perimeter soil berm or silt fence on the down-gradient side(s) of the drill-pad. <br />Drilling Operations: A rotary drill-rig, capable of rotary drilling and spot-coring, will be utilized for <br />general exploration work. The drill-rig will be attack-mounted, rubber-tired unit, capable of <br />operating in rough terrain. Support equipment will include but not be limited to a water truck, pipe <br />truck and/or pipe trailer, rig-up heck, air compressor, core trailer, and two or three 4 x 4 pickups for <br />the drill-crew and company representatives. For each drillhole, a short section (typically 40-60 feet) <br />of threaded surface casing will be set to stabilize unconsolidated surface materials. Drillholes will be <br />a nominal 6.25 inches in diameter and will vary in depth from approximately 450 to 1,450 feet. The <br />location and anticipated total depth for each drillhole are identified in Table 1. It is anticipated that <br />the Wadge and Wolf Creek coal seams and associated roof and floor units will be cored in each <br />drillhole. If other coal seams of interest are penetrated they may be cored, as well. Cores will be <br />recovered, examined and logged by a qualified geologist, and core samples may be sent-off for <br />analysis of coal and roof/floor chemistry and characteristics and rock-strength parameters. It is <br />anticipated that the majority of drillholes will extend approximately 70 feet below the Wolf Creek <br />coal seam, but none will extend into the Trout Creek Sandstone. The primary circulation medium <br />will be water and drilling mud. In the event that subsurface conditions are favorable, air or an <br />air/foam medium may be utilized, as an alternative to mud. Water for drilling will be obtained from <br />stock ponds located on surface controlled by TCC. Drilling contracts will specify that only non- <br />toxic, bio-degradable compounds and additives may be used for drilling. <br />Geo~hvsical Loeeing_ On completion of drilling and core recovery, geophysical logging will be <br />completed for each drillhole to obtain additional geologic information. Atruck-mounted geophysical <br />logging unit will be used to obtain, correlate, and store logging informafion which may include <br />density, gamma, caliper, neutron, focused electric, sonic, verticality, temperature, and conductivity. <br />TCC will retain in its files all drill and geophysical logs for at least one year, and will make them <br />available for inspection by an authorized Division representative. <br />Exploration Maintenance Activities -Other than initial road maintenance to establish good access, it <br />is anticipated that access road maintenance requirements will be minimal, since the majority of the <br />exploration efforts will occur during the dry summer months. Other maintenance requirements will <br />include general housekeeping in active exploration areas and regular inspection and maintenance (as <br />necessary) of drainage structures. <br />Monitorine or Water-Supply Well Completion -Dependent on location, depth, and groundwater <br />conditions encountered, selected exploration drillholes may be converted to hydrologic monitoring <br />wells. In compliance with applicable provisions of 43CFR 3484.1(a), prior to conversion of an <br />exploration drillhole to a monitor well, authorization will be obtained from the appropriate regulatory <br />authority(s). Wells completion would involve casing the open drillhole, placing 20-slot screen and <br />8/12 silica sand or apre-packed, stainless steel or PVC well screen in the desired completion interval, <br />establishing bentonitic plugs above and below the screened interval and grouting the well annulus to <br />prohibit vertical migration and cross-contamination of aquifers, and developing the well by <br />successively flushing and pumping the well bore. Figure 2, Typical Monitoring Well Completion, <br />illustrates typical completion methods. <br />If an exploration drillhole is converted to a monitoring well, a detailed well completion report and <br />diagram will be forwarded to the appropriate regulatory agencies. Once the well is no longer needed, <br />it will be plugged and sealed in accordance with appropriate regulations. <br />Proposed Reclamation Methods: The proposed exploration program is designed to minimize new <br />surface disturbance by utilizing existing roads and trails to the extent possible, placing drill-pads <br />WolfCreckP jar NOl <br />06ro5/~pOJ S <br />