EXHIBIT A

Attached to and made a part of the

Verified Application of

Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP

in Cause No. 112, Docket No. 0210-AW-04

PROPOSED PLAN OF BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE

Burlington Resources Oil & Gas LP plans to conduct any operations on the Application Lands in a manner that will protect the environment, public health, safety and welfare. In the conduct of those operations, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP will:

(a) Conduct operations in accordance with the regulations of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission affecting the environment, public health, safety and welfare specified on Exhibit 1 attached to this proposed plan to protect the environment, public health, safety and welfare;

(b) Conduct operations in accordance with the Environmental Impact Statement for Oil and Gas Development in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation (That environmental impact statement is presently in draft form, but Applicant has been advised that the approval of the final environmental impact statement is expected during the month of September and that a record of decision will be issued. Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP will comply with the provisions of the environmental impact statement in its draft form until such time as the final environmental impact statement is approved, and thereafter Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP will conduct its operations in accordance with the approved environmental impact statement);

(c) Conduct operations in a manner which complies with the terms and provisions contained in any application for permit to drill upon the Application Lands which is approved by the Bureau of Land Management.

CURRENT SURFACE OCCUPANCY/USE

The Application Lands contain 7920.21 acres located within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Of the Application Lands, 160.00 acres (2.195%) of the surface are owned in fee. The remaining 7130.21 acres (97.805%) of the surface are owned by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

The surface of all of the Application Lands is generally used for grazing purposes.

EXHIBIT 1 ATTACHED TO AND MADE A PART OF EXHIBIT A VERIFIED APPLICATION OF

BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP

IN CAUSE NO. 112, DOCKET NO.

How COGCC Addresses Issues Affecting the Environment, Public Health, Safety & Welfare

ACCESS ROADS (Rule 1002.f.)

· Existing roads to be used when practicable

· Sharing of roads by operators when feasible

· Routing of roads to complement other land usage

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (Rule 210.a.)

· Directional signs shall be posted during drilling and recompletion

operations to advise emergency crews responding in case of an emergency situation

GROUND WATER PROTECTION (Rules 314, 317, 319, 324B, 324D, 325, 326,

333, 900 Series)

· Requirement to set sufficient surface casing to protect all fresh water and to prevent blowouts or uncontrolled flows

· Requirements for well control, testing, flaring and logging

· Plugging and abandonment requirements

· Aquifer protection requirements for underground injection

· Points of compliance requirements

· Underground injection requirements

· Mechanical integrity testing requirements

· Seismic operations requirements

· Exploration and production (E&P) waste management requirements

· Restriction on production pits

LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL DESIGNEE (Rule 214)

· Each local government may appoint a designee to receive documents and forms from the COGCC relating to oil and gas ctivities within that government area

· Notification of applications for permits to drill and hearing applications

· Consultation on locating roads, production facilities and well sites

when requested

NOISE ABATEMENT (Rule 802)

· Oil and gas operations shall comply with state maximum permissible noise levels

POLLUTION PREVENTION (Rules 208, 209, 324A, 900 Series)

· Corrective action requirements if pollution is caused

· Requirements to protect coal seams and water‑bearing formations

· Pollution prevention requirements

· Exploration and production waste management requirements

SAFETY (Rules 602, 603, 604, 605, 606A, 607)

· General safety and sanitary requirements

· Drilling and well servicing requirements in high density areas

· Production facilities requirements to prevent fires and spills/releases of produced fluids

· Seismic operations requirements

· Fire prevention requirements

· Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas requirements

SETBACKS (Rules 318.a. and b., 603.a.)

· Wells deeper than 2,500 feet shall be located no closer than 600 feet from any lease line and not less than 1,200 feet from any other well in the same formation

· Wells less than 2,500 feet shall be located no closer than 200 feet

from any lease line and not less than 300 feet from any other well in the same formation

· Wellheads shall be located 150 feet or 1½ times the height of the

derrick from any occupied building, public road, major above ground utility line or railroad

· Wells shall be at least 150 feet from a surface property line

SURFACE OWNER NOTICE (Rule 305.b.)

· Operators shall give notice to surface owners no less than 30 days

prior to commencing drilling operations with heavy equipment

· Operators shall give notice to surface owners no less than 7 days

prior to commencing subsequent well operations

· Operators shall give notice to surface owners no less than 30 days

prior to final reclamation operations when performed more than 30 days after a well is completed

SURFACE OWNER CONSULTATION (Rule 306)

· Operators shall consult in good faith with surface owners in locating

roads, production facilities and wellsites, and when preparing for reclamation and final abandonment

· Operators shall consult with surface owners prior to commencing

drilling operations with heavy equipment

· Applications for permits to drill shall not be approved by the COGCC until confirmation of such consultation has been completed or waived by the surface owner

SURFACE RESTORATION, REHABILITATION AND BONDING (Rules 333, 703, 705 and 1000 Series)

· Reclamation requirements for seismic operations

· Financial assurance requirements for surface owner protection

· Financial assurance requirements for seismic operations

· Site preparation, interim reclamation and final reclamation requirements

VENTING OR FLARING NATURAL GAS (Rule 912)

· Unnecessary or excessive venting or flaring from a well is prohibited

· Flaring may be required if necessary to protect public health, safety

and welfare

· Notice of flaring shall be provided to local emergency dispatch or to

local governmental designee