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SAGE CREEK PROJECT <br />2009 Exploration Program <br />NOTICE-OF-INTENT <br />SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION <br />3) Basis of Rights to Enter for- Exploration and Reclamation <br />'fable 1, ,Stove t -eek h-gi'cl - 2009 E.rhloruliou Pi-ogrunr Drillhole Location uucl Ownet-Ship. summarizes <br />corchole.'drillhole locations and surface and coal ownership at the 14 sites and geotechnical study area that Sake <br />Creel. Holdings, LI,C plans to drill as part of the 2009 Exploration Program. Map I, .Saga ('rack `009 <br />l::rhlorcrlion h-ogrcuu, a 1-inch 3.00040ot scale map, shoes the exploration locations and geotechnical study <br />area. All of the proposed drill-sites are on lands Miere surface access and use are allowed under surface use <br />'it .treements ?\ith the surface landomicr: the right to explore and prospect for coal is granted through existing <br />leases and licenses. Right-ofentr\ agreements are found in Appendix A. <br />-t) Description of Land to be Affected <br />The proposed exploration area of approximately 600 acres encompasses portions of Sections 3, -I. 5. 10. 15 and <br />?_'. Tomiship j North. Range 87 West, and portions of Sections 32 and 33. ToN\nship 6 North. Ranee 87 West. of <br />the 6"' P.M.. all itl Routt Count', Colorado (Appendix B presents the legal description ofthe proposed exploration <br />program). The area is located approximately five miles southeast of Hayden. Colorado. The proposed <br />exploration locations are generally in areas previously disturbed by historic exploration activities or agricultural <br />operations, and have been located adjacent to existing count, roads, existing graveled coal haulage roads or <br />unimproved ranch roads, where feasible. <br />Cultural resource inventories have been completed for the proposed drill-sites and the geoteehnical study area. <br />The archeological/ cultural resource documentation is presented in Appendix C. <br />Colorado Division of' Wildlife (CI)MV), in partnership \yith federal land management agencies, recently <br />implemented it conservation plan for the greater-sage grouse (Colorado Greater-sage-grouse Conservation Plan, <br />CDOW. 2008). File plan recommends a 0.6 mile breeding season buffer for Greater sage-grouse and a 0.4 mile <br />breeding season buffer fir Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Exploration site ccu046 is within 0.6 miles of an <br />active sage-grouse lek. Exploration sites ccu038, 039, 043, 044. and 048 are within 0.4 miles ofan active sharp- <br />tailed grouse lek. To minimize short-term impacts. Sage Creek holdings. LLC (Sage Creek) Nyill schedule the <br />exploration activities at these six sites outside the nesting season which takes place during \Ia\ and little. <br />Sage Creek has consulted \yith the CD(_A regarding potential impacts to grouse habitat in the exploration <br />program area. CDO V hiulooists suryc\ed the 15 proposed drill sites in Noyemher 2008. CROW does not <br />anticipate an) unacceptable impacts to grouse lek sites and or breeding habitat as a result of the exploration <br />activities. However. CDOW has recommended an appropriate season for activities at each exploration site to <br />nlinimi/e potential impacts to grouse. Exploration sites ccu034. 03S. 036. 037 and 040 are located in marginal or <br />non-grouse habitat and can he drilled at any time of the year F lie remaining 10 titles occur %\ ithln grousc habitat <br />and drilling activit at these sites should ahide by the nesting and breeding seasonal stipulation (N1ay I to .luly 1). <br />fwo sites, ccu038 and 043) \yere identified as being particularly suited for \yintcr drilling (.lanu;rr% I Io March <br />I ?). The CDOW \N ildlite consultation fir this exploration program is provided in Appendix C. (1cotcclmical <br />Sag" Creek lln lrcr • : uUV ,YI )/ <br />of ax w