2009-01-20_PERMIT FILE - X200923100

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bond calculation estimate as part of the NOI review Sage Creek may choose to file a corporate surety for the least cost estimate. The following sections describe the specific proposed reclamation practices to be used to return areas disturbed by the exploration activities to a stable condition and productive use. Drill Hole or Well Plugging- Sealing and Abandonment: All drillholes will be plugged, sealed, and abandoned unless they are converted into a groundwater monitor well. Deeper drillholes will be plugged with a minimum of 6 cubic yards (about 750 feet) of cement slurry - this is the off-road transport capacity of a cement truck. Shallower drillholes will be plugged with between 3 and 5 cubic yards of cement slurry (as appropriate). The cement slurry will be tremied into the drillhole from the bottom of the hole, up through the target units. 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 E. Surface casing, if used to keep the drillhole open, 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, as noted above, the groundwater monitor wells will be plugged, sealed, and abandoned in essentially the same manner, with the stipulation that cement slurry will be used for plugging the entire well interval. Exploration Site Reclamation: Following completion of exploration activities (drilling, sampling, and geophysical logging) for each exploration site, any drillholes not converted to monitoring wells will be plugged, sealed and abandoned, as previously described, and exploration disturbance will be reclaimed. In accordance with Rules 2.02.2(2)(f) and 4.21.4(4), excavations, artificial flat areas, and embankments created during exploration will be returned to their original contour promptly after such features are no longer needed for coal exploration. 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) Drilling fluids in mud pits will be allowed to dry, or they may be pumped from the mud pit for off-site disposal. 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 the drill pads regraded to approximate their original configuration and blend with the adjacent terrain. 3) Stockpiled or windrowed "A" and "B" horizon material will be redistributed at a uniform thickness over disturbed areas. 4) Disturbed areas will be reseeded to stabilize the surface and control erosion using a seed Sage C-k ProJea -1009 NOI 9110"9 14