2009-04-15_REVISION - X200923100

Home Browse Search

SAGE CREEK PROJECT 2009 Exploration Program NOTICE-OF-INTENT SUPPLEME'N'TAL INFORMATION 3) Basis of Rights to Enter for Exploration and Reclamation fable I .,Sage Creek Project - 009 F,.yloration Program Ivillhole Location amt Ownership. summarizes corchole/drillhole locations and surface and coal ownership at the 15 sites and geotechnical stud% area that Sage ('reek I loldings. LI.C plans to drill as part of the 2009 Fxploration Pro,(Tranl. Map I. ,SuLe ('rc'elt 'UIl9 Exploration Program. a 1-inch = 3.00040ot scale map. shows the exploration location;. Map I A.,S;eige Creek 009 Exploralion Prograrrr Geolechrricul ,Snrch .freer, a I-inch = 3.00040ot scale map, shows the proposed geotechnical study area with an inset displaying the 2009 exploration drill-sites. All of the proposed drill-sites are on lands where surface access and use are atto\\cd under surface use agreements with the surface landowner: the right to explore and prospect tier coal is granted through existing leases and licenses. Right-ofentry agreements are fixtrtd in Appendix A. -I) Description of Land to he Affected Ile proposed exploration area of approximatcl\ 000 acres encompasses portion, of Sections 3..1. 5. 1(I, 15 and 22, Fow nship 5 North. Range 87 West. and portions of Sections 32 and 33. I ow nship 6 North. Rangc 97 Nest, of the 6°i P.M., all in Rolm Coulll\. Colorado (Appendix B presents the legal description ofthe proposed exploration program). 1-11c area is located approxinlatcI% live miles southeast of'[ laden. Colorado. The proposed exploration locations are generally in areas previously disturbed bN historic exploration activitics or agricultural operations, and have been located adjacent to existing eount\ roads. existing ormeled coal haulage roads or unimproved ranch roads. where feasible. Cultural resource inycntorics have been completed for the proposed drill-sites and the geotechnical study area. H IC archeological;' cultural resource documentation is presented in Appendix C. Colorado Division of W'ildlitc (CDOW), in partnership with federal land management agencies. recently implemented a conservation plan for the greater-sage grouse (Colorado Greater-sage-grouse Conservation flan. CDOW, '008). The plan recommends a 0.6 mile breeding season buffer fir (;realer sage-grouse and it 0.4 mile breeding season buffer fi)r Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Fxploration site ccu046 is within 0.6 miles ofan active saoc-grouse Iek. Exploration sites ccu(1.;8. 039. 043. 044. and 048 are within 0A miles ofan active sharp- tailed grouse Iek. Fo minimize short-term impacts. Sagc Creek I Ioldings. 11C (Saec Creek) \\ ill schedule the exploration activities at these six sites and the geotechnical stud\ area outside the nesting season which takes place during Nlav and June. Sage Creck has consulted w ith the CROW regarding potential impacts to grouse habitat in the exploration program area. CDO\k' hiolo,,ists survewd the 13 proposed drill sites in November 2008. CDOW does not anticipate an} unacceptable impacts to -,rouse Iek sites and or breeding habitat as a result of the exploration activities. I lo\\cvcr. CDOW has recommended an appropriate season for activities at each exploration site to minimize potential impacts to grouse. Fxploration sites ccu034. 035. 036. 037 and 040 are located in marginal or non-u,rouse habitat and can be drilled at an\ time ot'the Vicar. The remaining 10 sites occur \kithin grouse habitat and drilling activity at these sites should abide b\ the nestlilu, and breeding seasonal stipulation (flay I to luly I ). -1,\\o sites. Ccu038 and 043 were identified as being, particularl_? suited liar \\ inter drilling (.lanuan I to March 15). Fhe CD( )\V \\ ildlifc consultation for this exploration pro(fram is proyidcd in Appendix C. Gcotechnical work gill be completed outside the nesting season (July I" to October 31"), away from Iek and nesting sites (refer to wildlite Map 3), areas not identified as grouse habitat (adjacent to CCU036 - a site w ith no timing restrictions).