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on ground conditions and to maintain hole integrity. A 6" hole is drilled to retrieve core samples <br />of the coal zones including strata above and below the coals. The primary drilling medium will <br />be compressed air with mist /foam injection to aid in the circulation of cuttings to the surface. If <br />air and foam prove to be an insufficient medium, or if lost circulation becomes a problem, <br />drilling mud and lost circulation materials will be used. <br />The core retrieved from the hole will be approximately 3" in diameter although smaller diameter <br />core (1 7/8 ") may be used in some instances. The outer diameter of the cored portion of the hole <br />will be 6 inches or less. <br />Modification of Drill Holes to Surveillance for Water Levels <br />ALC proposes to convert exploration hole SST -2 to an E Seam water monitoring site if mineable <br />thickness of E Seam coal is present. Due to the high potential for unmineable coal to be present <br />at that location, ALC proposes to delay construction of the water monitoring well until the hole <br />is drilled and a determination on mineability of the resource is completed. The necessary well <br />permit will then be obtained from CDRMS for the well installation. <br />For the other exploration sites, the USFS, BLM, and CDRMS will be notified if significant water <br />flows are encountered during drilling. At that time, it will be determined whether a monitoring <br />\veil installation would be prudent. <br />No significant water- bearing bedrock or aquifers are anticipated to he encountered. The Mesa <br />Verde Formation is known to contain limited water bearing sandstones, and no known bedrock <br />aquifers exist. If significant quantities of water are encountered, the appropriate regulatory <br />officials will he notified and if so directed, the hole may be completed as additional water <br />monitoring well. <br />Drill Hole Identification <br />For reference, the identification of the holes will change upon initiation of drilling. <br />Pre - Drill ID Completed Hole ID <br />SST -1 XXSST -1 <br />SST -2 XXSST -2 <br />SST -3 XXSST - 3 <br />SST -4 XXSST -4 <br />SST -5 XXSST -5 <br />SST -6 XXSST -6 <br />SST -7 XXSST -7 <br />SST -8 XXSST -8 <br />SST -9 XXSST -9 <br />SST -10 XXSST -10 <br />SP -1 XXSP -1 <br />SP -2 XXSP -2 <br />XX = Year hole was drilled; i.e. 14SST -8 would have been drilled in 2014. <br />10 <br />