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4 <br />Simultaneously, access entries will be developed south and east in the Apache Seam. <br />The mains are development of room and pillar only with no pillaring. Multiple panels <br />are planned off the mains. No mining will occur within 150ft of a gas well. <br />Development only mining will occur within the pipeline protection corridor. Retreat <br />mining resulting in subsidence is planned in areas within the panels as outlined in <br />Map 3 -2011 Mine Plan. Timing by year advances from the North to the South. <br />Mining in the Blue Seam will begin upon completion of the rock slopes from the <br />Bates Portal. Two sets of seven entry east mains will advance about one mile to the <br />permit boundary. Mining will then turn south with seven entry south mains <br />paralleling the permit boundary. The south mains are approximately two miles long. <br />Panels will be developed to the west off of the south mains. Partial pillaring is <br />performed in the panels that vary in length from about 2,000 to 3,000 feet. A mine <br />panel north of the east mains will be developed and pillared. A second long panel <br />will be developed to the south of the east mains as shown on Map 3. The Blue Seam <br />Mine plan is shown on a separate view port on Map 3 since nearly the entire Blue <br />Seam Mine plan is underlain by future workings in the Apache and Allen Seams. <br />No secondary mining is planned in any area where protection from subsidence of <br />surface structures is required. <br />Production estimates are dependent on demand and system capacity and may be <br />adjusted to economic conditions in the coal industry. In the early years, coal will be <br />trucked to the Jansen Yard load out for transfer to rail. Clean coal production greater <br />than 1.2 million tons annually is expected to facilitate re- establishing rail <br />transportation to the mine site. <br />(1) Production, Methods and Equipment <br />Mining is projected to commence in 2011 and reach an annual rate of 1,000,000 tons <br />per year the following year. Mining equipment will consist of a continuous miners, <br />diesel and/or electric shuttle car haulage to a feeder breaker placing coal onto <br />conveyor belt haulage in each section. Coal will be transported to the surface by <br />conveyor belt. <br />(2) Description of Surface Operations <br />The surface facilities associated with the New Elk Mine are show on Map 11- -Sheet <br />1 East Portal Roads, Slope Track and Cut Areas, Map 11- -Sheet 2 East Portal <br />Utilities, Map 11 -Sheet 3 Facilities, and Map 12 Surface Facilities and Roads West <br />Portal. The surface disturbance boundary is also shown on these maps. The New <br />Elk mining operations began in 1952 and the majority of surface facilities are built on <br />development refuse used as fill in the Purgatoire River Valley. Construction and <br />placement of some of the surface facilities took place prior to August 3, 1977. <br />Major exceptions include the preparation plant and associated facilities, sediment <br />ponds, and Apache Canyon airshafts. Individual facilities are indicated on Table 19 <br />Surface Facilities list and shown on Maps 11 and 12. Reclamation of these facilities <br />is discussed in subsequent sections of this document. <br />Section 2.05 TR -68 12/10/2014 <br />