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contamination, drill holes will be completed to the extent possible with air, air-foam, or water as <br />the circulation medium. If drilling muds are necessary to maintain circulation and drill hole <br />integrity, polymer muds that are free of metallic compounds will be utilized. <br />All drilling and related operations will be conducted by experienced exploration drillers in such a <br />way as to minimize potential environmental impacts, and will be supervised by a qualified <br />geologist or engineer. During drilling operations, water levels and flows in the drill holes (if <br />any) will be closely monitored in order to characterize hydrologic conditions in the target seams <br />and overlying strata. The interval to be drilled contains no aquifer. Samples of immediate roof <br />and floor rock materials and targeted coal seams will be logged and may be collected during <br />drilling for subsequent analysis. <br />During drilling, OMLLC will control dust from drilling and related activities, divert and control <br />both natural runoff from disturbed areas and fluid loss from drilling, and will clean-up any trash <br />or debris. If air is utilized as the circulation medium, dust from drilling will be controlled by a <br />flexible shroud at the drill collar. Drill cuttings and portable pits or excavated mud pits will <br />effectively contain drilling fluids as discussed above. <br />All drilling equipment will be equipped with fire extinguishers and shovels in case there is a fire. <br />Oil waste, filters, etc. will be hauled offsite for proper disposal. <br />Hole Completion -Due to long-term access issues and/or the depth of the holes, OMLLC does <br />not plan to complete the exploration holes as water monitoring wells or methane vent wells. The <br />hole depths are noted above. <br />Site Reclamation -Upon completion of drilling and related activities, all drill holes will be <br />backfilled, sealed and abandoned. During drilling, fluid return will be monitored to identify the <br />depth and extent of any water-producing zones. Upon abandonment, bentonite chips or a <br />bentonite gel or similar seal will be established in the bottom of the hole, extending to at least <br />within 10' of the surface. Accumulations of drill cuttings and mud will be buried in the mud pit <br />(if any). A cement plug will be set in the drill hole ten (10) feet below the ground to within three <br />(3) feet of the surface. <br />Excavations, including mud pits, will be backfilled. Where mud pits are necessary, they will be <br />allowed to dry and/or backfilled with drill cuttings and/or previously excavated material. During <br />backfilling, the material will be mixed and compacted as it is replaced, by running the equipment <br />over the backfilled area during placement of successive lifts. Following backfilling, disturbance <br />areas will be graded to their approximate original configuration and drainage will be <br />reestablished. Any salvaged topsoil materials will be re-spread onto the regraded surface. A <br />metal post with identifying brass tag will be placed in the vicinity of the hole as a permanent <br />maxker. All trash and debris will be removed from drill sites for disposal. <br />For pre-existing disturbance areas, the disturbed configuration will be reestablished as needed for <br />future operations or land use activities. For other exploration disturbance areas, reclamation will <br />be completed after regrading by scarifying the regraded surface as needed, redistributing <br />stockpiled topsoil, and reseeding the area using the certified weed free seed mixtures prescribed <br />in the CDRMS Permit C-1981-022, Volume 12, Exhibit 2.05-E6, Revegetation Plan. Oxbow will <br />• Page 5 <br />