2008-04-22_PERMIT FILE - X200822901 (4)

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COW CAMP PROJECT 2008 Exploration Program NOTICE-OF-INTENT SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 3) Basis of Rights to Enter for Exploration and Reclamation Table 1, Cow Camp Project - 2008 Exploration Program Drillhole Location and Ownership, summarizes corehole/drillhole locations and surface and coal ownership at the 21 sites Colorado Coal Resources, LLC (CCR) plans to drill as part of the 2008 Exploration Program. Map 1, Cow Camp 2008 Exploration Program, a 1-inch=4,000-foot scale map, shows the exploration locations. All of the proposed drill-sites are on lands where the surface is owned by Seneca Coal Company (SCC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colorado Coal Resources, LLC, or where surface access and use is allowed under existing surface use agreements with the surface landowner. Right-of entry agreements are found in Appendix A. 4) Description of Land to be Affected The proposed exploration area of approximately 840 acres encompasses portions of Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15, Township 5 North, Range 87 West, and portions of Sections 31, 33 and 34, Township 6 North, Range 87 West, of the 6`~' P.M., all in Routt County, Colorado (Appendix B presents the legal description of the proposed exploration program). The area is located approximately five miles southeast of Hayden, Colorado. The proposed exploration locations are generally in areas previously disturbed by historic exploration activities or agricultural operations, and have been located adjacent to existing county roads, existing graveled coal haulage roads or unimproved ranch roads, where feasible. Cultural resource inventories have been completed for most of the proposed drill-sites. Archeological/cultural resource documentation for drill holes CCU-012 -CCU-024 is presented in Appendix C. Drill holes CCU025 and CCU027 - CCU033 require cultural resource clearance. CCR has contracted with Metcalf Archeological Consultants, Inc. to complete the cultural resource inventory for these seven exploration locations as soon as ground conditions permit access to the sites. Exploration activities at sites CCU025 and CCU-027 -CCU-033 will not start until the cultural resource inventories have been completed and approved by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. CDOW, in partnership with federal land management agencies, recently implemented a conservation plan for the greater-sage grouse (Colorado Greater-sage-grouse Conservation Plan, CDOW, 2008). The plan recommends a 0.6 mile buffer for Greater sage-grouse and a 0.4 mile buffer for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Exploration sites CCU019 and CCU030 are within 0.6 miles of an active sage- grouse lek. Exploration sites CCU012, 025, 028 and 033 are within 0.4 miles of an active sharp- tailed grouse lek. CDOW does not anticipate any long-term negative impacts to the breeding habitat as a result of the exploration activities. To minimize short-term impacts, CCR will schedule the exploration activities at these six sites outside the nesting season which takes place during May and June. In addition, CCR will conduct a field reconnaissance prior to initiating the exploration to ensure that the drill pad is not directly on top of an active lek. If necessary, a drill pad encroaching on a lek site will be moved to a Cow Camp Pmjec! - 2008 NO/ a//S/08