PERMIT FILE - 8/5/2008, 3:12:32 PM-SW1

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Minor low water crossings (bank cuts) are proposed within the project area in order to allow passage of construction and drilling equipment across the ephemeral drainages. Proposed locations of the low water crossings were selected based on four factors: 1) where the natural condition of the drainage bank and bed would support the crossing without the need for any fill; 2) where the bank cut to support the crossing would be minimal; 3) where minimal soil disturbance would be required; and 4) where running water is minimal or absent during moderate storm events. Each crossing would be constructed to approximately 20 feet in width and to the site-specific vertical profile necessary to avoid high-centering of the equipment. Upon the completion of the exploration drilling, all bank cuts would be reconstructed to their original contour and would be reclaimed according to standards of the BEM. Disturbance Estimates Short-term surface disturbance as a direct result of project related operations including drill rig travel routes and drill site construction is estimate at approximately 1.64 acres. Blading and grading of the travel routes and the proposed ten drill sites would only be completed if necessary. Surface disturbance from each travel route would typically consist of two, 3-foot wide tracks (total disturbance of six feet per travel route) from the floatation tire-equipped, 10- foot wide drilling rig. To account for the turning radius of the equipment and the minor deviation from the previously created 6-foot wide tracks a total travel route width of 12- feet has been assumed. A total of 5,202' of travel route across new and existing disturbance is proposed with a total width of 12-feet for an estimated travel route disturbance of 1.44 acres. Travel with the support truck and crew trucks for the estimated four crew members would be minimized within the project area to further reduce disturbance along the travel routes. A detailed breakdown of surface disturbance for the project is given in Table 2 below. Table 2 -Disturbance Breakdown Feature T e FeaturelD Len th Feet Area Feet Area Acres Access 2track entry (needs work 2912 34944 0.802203857 Access All access to all holes 2290 27480 0.630853994 Pad VX-08-001 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-002 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-003 ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-004 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-005 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-0O6 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-007 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-008 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-009 ~ ~ 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 Pad VX-08-010 20'x40' and 10' X 10' it 900 0.020661157 _ Total Approx Acrea e . -> 1.639669421 Surface disturbance from earthwork is only proposed at the drill sites and only if necessary. For the purposes of disturbance estimation, it was assumed that each drill site would be 20-feet by 40-feet and that all ten of the drill sites would need blading and