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INTRODUCTION Mountain Coal Company (MCC) is proposing to construct an access road and pad in the NE'/4 of Section 32, T.13S, R.90W, 6th Principal Meridian, Gunnison County, Colorado. The project azea is located on lands managed by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Grand Mesa -Uncompahgre -Gunnison National Forest, Paonia Ranger District. Project Name: Mountain Coal Company Deer Creek Shaft Project PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION: The proposed shaft pad site is approximately 1/4 mile southeast of Minnesota Creek Reservoir. Anew access road will be built extending from the Minnesota Creek Road (USFS 711) at a point south and east of Minnesota Reservoir and west of Deer Creek, and leading southwest on contour to the shaft site. There is a wetlands azea to the east of the project on the Deer Creek drainage that will not be affected by the road and pad construction. At a minimum the pad will be 600 feet from this wetlands. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE: Description The proposed project consists of: • Constructing an access road and pad; • Using raised bore construction methods to bore the shaft from underground within the mine to create a 20-feet diameter by 400-feet deep (approximate) shaft and a 5-feet diameter by 400-feet deep (approximate) emergency escape shaft; • Building a housing structure to enclose the emergency escape shaft and electrical generation equipment for the emergency escape hoist; • Installing access control fencing; • Performing interim reclamation on the access pad and road once the shaft and associated structures aze constructed; and • Closing the shafts and performing final reclamation when these features are no longer needed at the end of the mine life (circa 2020). Purpose The purpose of the Deer Creek Shaft is to provide ventilation for the mine and this shaft will be designed to function without a ventilation fan. The emergency escape shaft is proposed to support the mine evacuation plans and meet Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements for the mine, The emergency escape shaft is not planned to be an active component of the mine ventilation system. Both the Deer Creek Shaft and the emergency escape shaft will be built on the same pad.