2015-02-09_PERMIT FILE - C1981018A (4)

Home Browse Search

III. MINE DESCRIPTION The Deserado Mine is an underground operation utilizing both continuous and longwall mining equipment. Approximately 3,200,000 tons per year of raw coal will be produced. After preparation, up to 2,600,000 tons per year will be shipped to the power plant. There are two entrances to the coal seams: the D Seam Portal and the B Seam Portal, Section 4, T2N, R101 W. The surface layout of these areas is shown in Maps 24 to 27. In addition to the above - mentioned disturbances, another major surface disturbance will be the refuse disposal area. All surface disturbances are described in detail in the Mine Surface Facilities Operation Plan and Mine Surface Facilities Reclamation Plan portions of this permit application. The remainder of this section is devoted to an overall general description of the mine. This section is subdivided into a description of the underground development, a description of surface support facilities, and a discussion of scheduling and manpower requirements. III.A Underground Development The mine plan is based upon mining two separate coal seams, the D Seam and the B Seam complex (hereafter called the B Seam). The D Seam, which overlies the B Seam, averages about 7.5 feet thick. It is mineable throughout the southern and eastern part of the permit area, but thins and becomes unmineable toward the northwest. The B Seam reaches maximum thickness in leases C -8424 and C -8425 and is mineable throughout these areas. • The coal seams are accessed by rock tunnels at two locations within the D Portal area. The D Portal was developed first and the B Portal developed later within the same area. Ventilation Entries were developed from the mine in the D Seam to the outcrop in SW1 /4, NW1 /4, Section 11 (sealed and reclaimed in 2000 - 2001). Two ventilation shafts have been installed for the B Seam (See Map 151 &156) with additional return shafts being developed as mining progresses. The B -Vent Shaft, B -Vent Shaft #3, and return shafts are used for ventilation exhaust. The remaining facilities including shops, warehouse, service building, administration building and coal handling and preparation facilities are located in the vicinity of the D and B Portals. It should be noted that construction of B -Vent Shaft #2 failed due to poor ground conditions. Plans to recover the lost drill steel are being considered. Raw coal from the mine passes through a rotary breaker and into twin 10,000 ton raw -coal silos. From there the coal goes to the preparation plant or shipped directly to a 25,000 ton clean coal slot storage facility. The refuse from the preparation plant is transported by off - highway trucks to the disposal area. Permit Renewal #6 (01/2014) III -1