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If an exploration drillhole is converted to a monitoring or water-supply well, a detailed well completion report and diagram will be forwarded to the appropriate agencies. [f the well is completed for water-supply purposes, the appropriate water rights filings will be made with the State Engineers Office. Once the well is no longer needed, it will be plugged and sealed. Proposed Reclamation Methods -The proposed exploration program is designed to minimize new surface disturbance by utilizing existing roads and trails to the extent possible, placing drill pads adjacent to existing roads, utilizing previously disturbed areas for drill pads, and limiting pad size. Surface disturbance, and reclamation requirements and costs aze summarized by Table 2. The following sections describe the specific proposed reclamation practices to be used to return exploration disturbance to a stable condition and productive use. Drillhole or Well Plugging, Sealin>;, and Abandonment -All drillholes will be plugged, sealed, and abandoned unless they are converted for long-term use as monitoring or water-supply wells. Drillholes will be plugged with a minimum of 6 cubic yards (about 700 feet) of cement slurry. The cement slurry will be tremied into the drillhole from the bottom of the hole, up through the target units (including any aquifer units encountered). This will effectively plug and seal all coal beds and potential groundwater aquifers to prevent vertical groundwater migration and cross-contamination of aquifers. Any remaining open drillhole interval will be filled with other suitable plugging material (plug gel or vendor- specific grout compounds) and/or drill cuttings to within 5 feet of the ground surface, and the drillhole will be sealed with a surface plug consisting of at least 5 feet of cement. Information on potential plugging materials, that are generally superior to conventional cement grout, is provided in Appendix D. Surface casing will be cut-off at or below grade. Reclaimed drillhole locations will be marked with either a steel fence post or a metal survey cap at or below ground level (used where agricultural cropping occurs). All drillhole locations will be accurately surveyed, and distinctly numbered, allowing for future identification. Abandonment reports will be prepared and filed, as required by applicable regulations. When no longer needed, monitoring or water-supply wells will be plugged, sealed, and abandoned in essentially the same manner, with the stipulation that cement slurry will be used for plugging the well. Exploration Site Reclamation -Following completion of exploration activities (drilling, sampling, and geophysical logging) for each exploration site, any drillholes not converted to monitoring or water-supply wells will be plugged, sealed and abandoned, as previously described, and exploration disturbance will be reclaimed. Site reclamation will follow completion of exploration activities for each site as soon as reasonably practical, recognizing however, that certain reclamation activities may be coordinated to take advantage of equipment and personnel availability. Seeding of reclaimed exploration sites will occur during the first favorable seeding period (typically late fall (preferred), or early spring) following completion of site reclamation. The following summarizes the steps and general sequence for reclamation of exploration disturbance areas: 1) On completion of exploration activities at a given site, all trash, debris, and exploration equipment and supplies will be removed from the site. 2) For drill-sites, excess drilling fluids may be pumped from mud pits for off-site disposal, and the mud pits allowed to dry-out. Mud pits or excavated trenches will be backfilled with the excavated material and compacted to minimize any settling. Any excess drill cuttings will be spread over the drill pad, and drill pads, trenched areas, and any new access road segments graded to approximate their original configuration and blend with the adjacent terrain. 3) Stockpiled or windrowed topsoil will be redistributed at a uniform thickness over disturbed areas. 4) Disturbed areas will be reseeded [o stabilize the surface and control erosion using the following seed mix, or a mixture developed in consultation with the appropriate landowner or as specified by the CDMG (for areas with federal surface ownership). Replaced topsoil will be scarified prior to seeding, and areas will be drill or broadcast seeded at the prescribed rates. A harrow or similar implement will be used to drag the surface and cover the seed following seeding. C:\Documents and Settings\jrb\LOCaI Settings\Temporary Interne[ Files\OLK259\2006 Empire NOI Appl Form Rl.doc Page 13 of 15