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• Slurry (mud) pit construction will be made on the downslope portion of the topsoil stripped drill <br />pad. Using either a D -6 dozer or backhoe, from one to two pits will be excavated at each site, <br />depending upon depth of drill hole and projected water requirements. The mud pit(s) will be <br />approximately 10' wide, 30' long and 6' deep. Subsoil and rock materials excavated from the <br />pits will be held separately and used to refill the mud pits upon reclamation. All pit constructions <br />and extracted subsoil will be within the stripped pad area. <br />The hydrologic balance will be protected by minimizing disturbance and through the entrapment <br />of sediments from exploration activities. Using the existing roads or trails to the degree practical <br />minimizes surface disturbance. Where possible, the existing vegetation will be left in -place and <br />the need for sediment control therefore reduced. With the existing roads mainly located in the <br />flatter area (along the ridge tops or valley bottoms), the need for new disturbance and the <br />possibility of sediment loss is reduced by avoiding areas of steep slopes. Likewise, by utilizing <br />existing flat areas for drill pads, only minimal surface disturbance will be necessary to level <br />uneven portions of the site and to construct a mudpit. <br />Salvaged soils will be placed upslope of the drill pad with appropriate sediment control devices <br />surrounding the down slope portion of the soil stockpile. A similar sediment control device will <br />be placed on the downslope side of the subsoil /rock stockpiles from the slurry (mud) pits. <br />Overland flow of the drill fluids will be directed into the slurry pit as will most precipitation <br />runoff. The drill pads will typically be reclaimed within two weeks of construction. <br />• Where roadwork is required to widen or level the roadway, the amount of material disturbed can <br />be significantly reduced in volume by limiting the soil material removed to only a few inches in <br />depth. This method leaves some topsoil in place while creating an adequate reserve for <br />redistribution, without significantly disturbing the major root systems of the existing grasses and <br />shrubs. In these areas, care will be taken to avoid traveling the roads when wet, causing <br />excessive rutting. <br />Methods and Equipment for Drilling <br />Rotary drilling and coring on each site will be completed using a rubber -tired truck- mounted <br />drilling rig. To aid in the protection of the hydrologic balance and protect other resources the <br />company will utilize as small a drill rig as can safely and successfully complete the job. In doing <br />so, the requirements for access road and drill site disturbances are lessened. Support equipment <br />may consist of one or two water trucks, one rig -up truck, a pipe truck, flatbed trailer, one or more <br />air compressors, and/or boosters, a supply trailer and three 4 x 4 pickups for the drill crews and <br />company representatives. This assembly is generally referred to as a "drilling unit ". One drilling <br />unit is anticipated during the drilling project. <br />Water for drilling operations will either be pumped or trucked to the sites and obtained from Dry <br />Fork of Minnesota Creek. Pumping the water used in the drilling process, if possible, will <br />minimize water truck traffic on the temporary access roads thereby minimizing surface <br />disturbance. The use of these other potential water sources will be approved by the agency or <br />• party owning the water rights prior to their use. In the event stock ponds are utilized, minimum <br />water levels will be established to ensure sufficient water is left for stock and wildlife. <br />8 <br />