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on drill hole sites and abandoned roads, after exploration activities are concluded, is the <br />planned method to prevent possible soil erosion. <br />Some exploration drilling will be conducted ahead of the surface mining activities. Where the <br />drill site will be mined through shortly (less than one growing season) after the conclusion of <br />drilling, reclamation will be accomplished after mining, not as described in this Section, but <br />rather in accordance with reclamation plan 2.0.4. <br />Because air is the anticipated drilling medium, contamination of water producing areas, such <br />as streams, springs, stockponds and groundwater, will be negligible. In the event air proves to <br />be an insufficient drilling mediwn, a non-toxic biodegradable foam will be used. It is <br />anticipated that mud will not be used as drilling medium. Water, if used in the drilling <br />operation, will be recirculated to eliminate contamination to water areas. <br />[f necessary, access roads and drill sites will be sprinkled with water to prevent dusty <br />conditions. No blasting will be conducted, nor is any gas or water pressure expected to be <br />encountered in the drilling program. No blowout control devices will be necessary because <br />there are no known valuable oil, gas, or geothermal resources in the planned drilling area. <br />Drill sites will be maintained at all times to prevent injury to persons, livestock and wildlife. <br />If mud pits are necessary and are used, they will be fenced to prevent entry by livestock or <br />wildlife. All drilling and exploration personnel will wear hardhats and steel toed shoes or <br />boots, and will adhere to the applicable Federal, State and Colowyo safety and health <br />regulations. <br />Exploration holes containing significant amounts of water will be plugged the entire depth <br />with concrete or other suitable media. Otherwise, all dry holes will be backfilled with drill <br />cuttings to within 10 feet of the top, then plugged with concrete up to the surface. All <br />remaining cuttings will be scattered evenly over the drill pad followed by the completion of <br />reclamation. <br />Colowyo will use a rotary drill to conduct the coal exploration work. <br />• <br />2.02-3 <br />