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traverse the entire line of points to complete the drilling of the line's exploration holes. <br />Existing roads are prolific in the project area and would be used where possible to <br />access the next series of drill points (Figures 1 & 2). The drilling rig would weigh about <br />28,000 pounds, and each low-pressure tire would be approximately three feet wide. <br />Total drill width is approximately ten feet with two, 3-foot wide tire treads. To account <br />for maneuvering flexibility to avoid obstacles or sensitive resources, travel distance <br />between lines, and multiple passes, it is estimated that the drilling rig would travel no <br />more than approximately 2 miles for every mile of travel route. Exceptions to traveling <br />the entire travel route would include altered routes to avoid environmentally sensitive <br />areas (cultural resources, sensitive biological conditions, etc.) or obstacles such as rock <br />features or trees. Drilling rig tires would not be chained. Tires of a conventional drill rig <br />would exert a pressure of about 27 pounds per square inch (psi) on the soil/ground <br />surface. <br />Blading or grading is not proposed at the drill sites unless the drill site is not level <br />enough to accommodate the drilling rig. If leveling is required the drill site would be 20 <br />-feet in width and 40-feet in length and accommodate the rig, water storage, drilling <br />equipment, drilling supplies and multiple crew vehicles. The rig would be oriented to <br />minimize surface disturbance and insure the most level area possible. Minor cuts and <br />fills may be generated and have been included in the disturbance estimate within the <br />20' by 40' area. <br />Homeland Uranium, Inc. may utilize a rubber-tire backhoe to construct one drilling pit at <br />each drilling site to contain drill fluids and drill cuttings during the drilling operation. <br />Drilling pits would also contain any formation water ejected from holes during drilling <br />and may have foam added to aid in the removal of drill cuttings. The pits would be <br />initially constructed at 10' X 10' and 8' deep but pit dimensions may be increased as <br />needed to contain produced water. The backhoe would also be utilized to transport <br />equipment and supplies around the project area as needed. <br />The air drilling rig would be capable of air drilling and drilling with mud should water be <br />encountered during drilling. The truck mounted drill would travel off-road and follow the <br />established travel route as modified by archaeological and biological surveys and <br />obstacles. In some instances, tree limbs may be removed to allow passage of drill <br />equipment and to prevent additional damage to the affected tree. Vegetation beneath <br />the tires would be compressed; perennial grasses and herbaceous species would be <br />flattened but would typically recover within the current or next growing season. More <br />woody species, such as sagebrush, may be damaged, particularly the older, more brittle <br />stems, but the younger more flexible parts of the plant would likely bend under the <br />pressure and typically recover within the current or next growing season. Homeland <br />Uranium Inc. proposed to utilize only one drilling rig supplied by Basic Drilling in this <br />project. <br />After drilling and evaluation, plugging of the hole would commence. Providing that no <br />water is encountered while drilling, the hole would be back-filled and a nonmetallic <br />surface plug would be installed in the hole. In the event that water is encountered during <br />drilling, bentonite chips would fill the abandon hole and a 10' cement cap placed over <br />the bentonite chips to surface. Should an alternate plugging method be requested by <br />the BLM that procedure would be followed. Drill cuttings would be spread over the <br />surrounding area.