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SASE I??EE? P?UJECT
<br />L9 ELI??AT??I? PRO?RA>
<br />??? State Board ofLand Commiivners Exploration ?'errnit ApplicationlAa?eadment
<br />iJPPLEEIYTAL II??"?RIVIATI?N
<br />3} Basis of fights to Enter for Exploration and Reclamation
<br />Table I ,Sage C're?k Pr?? jec? - ,???9 xpdora?iorr ?rogra Dri??ho?e ?ocatior? ar?d v?rersi?, summaries
<br />coreholeldrillhole locations and surface and coal ownership at the I5 sites and geotechnical study area that Sage
<br />Creek Holdings, LLC plans to drill as part afthe 20a9 Exploration Program. Map 1, Sage Creek X009
<br />E?cp?o?a?rar? ?'rograrrr, a 1-inch ? 3,D40-foot scale map, shags the exploratian locations. iVIap1A, Sage 'reek
<br />?0?? ?xp?oratiorr Fragrant C?n??chrrica? S?rrdy Aria, a 1-inch = 3,OOO?foat scale map, shows the proposed
<br />geotechnical study area with an inset displaying the ?40? exploration drill?sites. All ofthe proposed drill-sites are
<br />an lands where surface access and use are allowed under surface use agreements with the surface landowner; the
<br />right to explore and prospect far coal is granted through existing leases and licenses. Right-af entry agreements
<br />are 1`aund in Appendix A.
<br />?} ?]escription of Land to be Affected
<br />The proposed exploration area of approximately b44 acres encompasses portions of Sections ?, 4, 5,14, 15 and
<br />22, Township 5 North, Range 87 west, and portions of Sections 3? and 33, Township ? North, Range 87 west, of
<br />the b? P.NI., all in Routt County, Colorado Appendix ? presents the legal description of the proposed ex loration
<br />P
<br />program}. The area is located approximately eve miles southeast of Hayden, Colorado. The proposed
<br />exploratian locations are generally in areas previously disturbed by historic exploratian activities or agricultural
<br />operations, and have been located adjacent to existing county roads, existing graveled coal haulage roads ar
<br />unimproved ranch roads, where feasible.
<br />Cultural resource inventories have been completed far the proposed drill-sites and the geotechnical study area.
<br />The archeological) cultural resource documentation is presented in Appendix C.
<br />Colorado Division of V?ildlife ?CDOw}, in partnership with federal land management agencies, recently
<br />implemented a conservation plan far the greater-sage grouse Colorado Greater-sage?grouse Conservation Plan,
<br />CDOw, ?aa8}. The plan recommends a O.G mile breeding season buffer far Creatersage-grouse and a 0.4 mile
<br />breeding season buffer far Columbian sharp4tailed grouse. Exploration site ccu44? is within O. miles of an
<br />active sage-grouse lek. Exploration sites ccua3S, D3?, 443, I?44, and D48 are within 4.4 miles afan active sharp-
<br />tailed grouse lek. Ta ?r?inirni?e shart?term impacts, gage Creek Holdings, LLC Sage Creek} will schedule the
<br />e:?ploratian activities at these six sites and the geotechnical study area outside the nesting season which takes
<br />place during Nlay and June.
<br />Sage Creek has consulted with the CDOw regarding potential impacts to grouse habitat in the exploration
<br />program area. CDOw biologists surveyed the IS proposed drill sites in November 2448. CDOw does not
<br />anticipate any unacceptable impacts to grouse lek sites and or breeding habitat as a result of the exploratian
<br />activities. However, CDOV? has recommended an appropriate season for activities at oath exploratian site to
<br />minimize potential impacts to grease. Exploration sites ccu434, 435 436, 437 and 444 are located in mar final or
<br />? i • . , . ,
<br />non-grouse habitat and can be drilled at any time afthe year. The ren?a?ning I4 sites occur within grouse habitat
<br />and drilling activity at these sites should abide by the nesting and breeding seasonal stipulation May 1 to July 1 },
<br />T?va sites, ccu438 and 4?3 were identified as being particularly suited far winter drilling January 1 to March 15}.
<br />The CDOw wildlife consultation for this exploratian program is provided in Appendix C. ?eotechnical work will
<br />be completed outside the nesting season ?,f my 1 ? to October 1 ?}, away from lek and nesting sites prefer to
<br />?rildlife Map 3}, areas not identified as grouse habitat dad jacent to CCCio3G - a site with no timing restrictions.
<br />?S'?ge L*rCek f?!'l1f?Ct 1?10? NLt!
<br />O?10?109
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