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All drilling and related operations will be conducted by experienced exploration drillers <br />in such a way as to minimize potential environmental impacts, and will be supervised by <br />a qualified geologist or engineer. During drilling operations, water levels and flows in the <br />drill holes (if any) will be closely monitored in order to characterize hydrologic <br />conditions in the target seams and overlying strata. The interval to be drilled contains no <br />aquifer. Samples of immediate roof and floor rock materials and targeted coal seams will <br />be logged and will be collected during drilling for subsequent analysis. <br />During drilling, OMOMLLC will control dust from drilling and related activities, divert <br />and control both natural runoff from disturbed areas and fluid loss from drilling, and will <br />clean -up any trash or debris. If air is utilized as the circulation medium, dust from drilling <br />will be controlled by a flexible shroud at the drill collar. Drill cuttings and portable pits or <br />excavated mud pits will effectively contain drilling fluids as discussed above. <br />All drilling equipment will be equipped with fire extinguishers and shovels in case there <br />is a fire. Oil waste, filters, etc. will be hauled offsite for proper disposal. <br />Hole Completion — Oxbow may complete several of these exploration holes as water <br />monitoring wells, in preparation for base line monitoring required for permit submission. <br />Identification of specific drillholes to be completed as water monitoring wells will occur <br />once initial meetings with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and the CDRMS <br />have occurred and we have received their direction on locations for monitoring wells. <br />Drill holes selected to be completed as monitoring wells will be completed in accordance <br />with the guidelines agreed to by the BLM and CDRMS for monitoring wells. Once <br />activities have been completed and monitoring is no longer required, these wells will be <br />reclaimed as described below under site reclamation. The projected hole depths are <br />provided in the table above. <br />Site Reclamation - Upon completion of drilling and related activities, all drill holes will <br />be backfilled, sealed and abandoned. During drilling, fluid return will be monitored to <br />identify the depth and extent of any water - producing zones. Upon abandonment, <br />bentonite chips or a bentonite gel or similar seal will be established in the bottom of the <br />hole, extending to at least within 10' of the surface. Accumulations of drill cuttings and <br />mud will be buried in the mud pit (if any). A cement plug will be set in the drill hole ten <br />(10) feet below the ground to within three (3) feet of the surface. <br />Excavations, including mud pits, will be backfilled. Where mud pits are necessary, they <br />will be allowed to dry and/or backfilled with drill cuttings and/or previously excavated <br />material. During backfilling, the material will be mixed and compacted as it is replaced, <br />by running the equipment over the backfilled area during placement of successive lifts. <br />Following backfilling, disturbance areas will be graded to their approximate original <br />configuration and drainage will be reestablished. Any salvaged topsoil materials will be <br />re- spread onto the regraded surface. A metal post with identifying brass tag will be placed <br />in the vicinity of the hole as a permanent marker. All trash and debris will be removed <br />from drill sites for disposal. <br />For pre- existing disturbance areas, the disturbed configuration will be reestablished as <br />needed for future operations or land use activities. For other exploration disturbance <br />areas, reclamation will be completed after re- grading by scarifying the regraded surface as <br />