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10 <br />CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 OF NOI FORM <br />III. Project Description <br />Additional Information for items 5 and 6 of the NOI form <br />Description of Prospecting Activities <br />The Mahogany Research Project (MRP) being conducted by Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc. (SFOGI) is located in <br />the White River Sub -Basin approximately 20 miles southwest of Meeker, Colorado in Rio Blanco County. SFOGI <br />is conducting hydrologic studies and other tests of its oil shale properties, and this research will involve several <br />years of long -term testing and monitoring. Some of the research will involve drilling /coring, hydrology testing, and <br />environmental monitoring, and these activities will result in the production of ground water. The purpose of this <br />NOI is to allow the produced ground water to be discharged back into the ground following treatment. The drill <br />pads to be covered under this NOI are located in Segments 13b and 16 of the White River sub - basin, Lower <br />Colorado River Basin, found in the Classifications and Numeric Standards for the Lower Colorado River Basin <br />(WQCD Regulation No. 37). This NOI authorizes ground water discharges for public land drill pads previously <br />covered under a portion of WQCD Discharge Permit #COG - 600343 (Shell drill pads within the Yellow Creek <br />drainage basin) and #COG - 603102 (Shell drill pads within the Piceance Creek drainage basin, previously permit <br />#COG - 600523). The WQCD has requested that Shell terminate these permits and obtain authorization for the <br />discharge of ground water through DRMS. Discharge permit #COG - 600343 was terminated on 3/12/2012; <br />discharge permit #COG - 603102 will be terminated upon approval of this NOI. <br />Frequency and Duration of Discharges <br />The frequency and duration of discharges may vary depending on the location. Discharges may occur 24 <br />hours /day, 7 days /week. The drilling phase may last approximately 2 weeks per location. Hydrology testing may <br />last from one month to several months. Long -term environmental monitoring may occur for several years. <br />Formations, Aquifers. or Strata to be Sampled <br />The water - bearing intervals to be sampled in the various hydrologic monitoring wells included in this NOI consist <br />of the alluvium, Uinta Formation, A groove, B groove, L5, L4, L3, and L1 intervals. The relative positions of each <br />of these water- bearing intervals are depicted on attached Figure 5 — Stratigraphic Column — MRP Project Area. <br />Ambient Ground Water Quality Data <br />Please refer to ambient water quality data provided to DRMS in previous hydrology report submittals and kept in <br />the DRMS Prospecting NOI files. <br />Potential Sources of Ground Water Contamination to be Monitored <br />The monitoring plan set forth below in the effluent limitations table is designed to monitor potential contamination <br />of ground water from high total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations, oil & grease, and alkalinity or acidity (pH). <br />Treatment <br />No contaminants will be added to the water. Treatment of produced ground water will be by gravity separation of <br />drill cuttings and suspended solids (sand, silt) via containment/infiltration pits installed on each drill pad. Water <br />which meets the effluent limits set forth below will be discharged by allowing it to infiltrate back into the ground. If <br />a flocculant or defoamer is utilized, the appropriate MSDS will be submitted to DRMS. Use of the product will be <br />in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines and all applicable state and federal requirements. Settled solids <br />will be buried in the pits upon site reclamation. Produced ground water with TDS values of 10,000 mg /I or higher <br />will not be discharged via the containment/infiltration pits. This water will be trucked off site to a licensed water <br />treatment facility. <br />Land Application <br />Water produced during drilling and subsequent hydrologic monitoring will be allowed to infiltrate back into the <br />ground via the containment/infiltration pits provided the water meets applicable discharge requirements. Land <br />application of produced ground water by spray -type water truck may be practiced for dust control if the water <br />meets applicable discharge requirements and does not runoff or cause excessive ponding. <br />