Knife River Corporation (Knife River) has applied for a Gravel Test Permit located on state land to test for aggregate to explore gravel resources, referred to herein as the “Project”. The Project is located in the N2 of Sec. 26, T22N, R1W and, if granted, the permit will allow for up to 30 test pits dug by a backhoe to a depth of approximately 20 - 25 feet. See Exhibit A, Project Location Map. The test pits would determine the gravel resource within the Project area. Gravel and dirt would be excavated from the ground and sub-surface. Topsoil would be saved, and the disturbance created would be reclaimed immediately upon completion of logging the test pit. Testing and documenting would be performed by employees of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) – Trust Land Management Division and Knife River. If the Gravel Test Permit is approved, and if a gravel source is discovered during testing and Knife River would like to pursue a gravel mining permit, a separate Environmental Assessment (EA) will be conducted to determine the effects of gravel mining and therefore will not be evaluated in this EA.