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West Elk Mine <br />and submain entries and longwall panels in the E Seam was initiated in June 2004 from the <br />existing F to B Scarn slopes. In late 2015, three rock slope entries were developed from the E <br />Seam to the southern B seam reserves. MCC utilizes two methods of mining coal at West Elk <br />Mine. They are room and pillar for development mining and a retreat longwall system for. <br />production mining. Room and pillar mining was the only method used in the F Seam. It was <br />and will be used in the B and E Seams for development mining. Longwall mining was and will <br />be utilized in the B Seam and is utilized in the E Seam, as well. <br />Room and Pillar Mining Method <br />Development mining at West Elk Mine involves driving entries and cross -cuts through the coal <br />seam and leaving coal blocks to support the overlying strata. The resulting entries provide <br />travel -ways, ventilation, and locations for installing infrastructure to support mining activities. <br />This infrastructure includes conveyors, power, water, communications, rock dust, etc. <br />For development mining, MCC uses a system of continuous ruiners, haulage v,�nicles, and a <br />conveyor system to cut and transport the coal out of the mine. First, continuous miners cut the <br />coal from the seam. This cut coal is then loaded from the miners into diesel or electric haulage <br />vehicles. Finally, the haulage vehicles transport the coal to the conveyor system for <br />transportation out of the mine. After a cut of coal is mined, a roof bolter moves in and installs <br />roof bolts to support the roof. Conventional twin -boom roof bolters provide primary roof <br />support by installing resin -anchored roof bolts, conventional roof bolts, combination roof bolts, <br />or other approved systems. Bolt lengths and use of plates, mats, and mesh or other supplemental <br />materials are detennined by roof conditions. <br />The mine has a MSHA-approved roof control plan to provide protection under the anticipated <br />conditions. Roof support materials that are allowed under this approved plan include mechanical <br />roof bolts, roof trusses, resin -anchored roof bolts, timbers, resin -anchored cable bolts, steel <br />crossbars, yieldable arches, crossbars, wire mesh, concrete props called "cans" and other <br />co=only used mine roof support means. For support of long -life entries, air -courses, critical <br />ancillary installations, overcasts, and other permanent or semi-permanent facilities, supplemental <br />roof support may be installed, if inspections indicate that the roof is weakening. Supplemental <br />roof support has also been utilized in the longwall panel bleeder and tailgate entries. The roof <br />control plan also includes provisions for installing supplemental support if a loose or badly <br />sagging top is detected or where abnormalities are discovered, <br />Main Entries & Saab -Main Entries <br />At West Elk Mine, from five. to ten entries are typically mined as main entries. The number of <br />entries depends on mining conditions, and ventilation and access requirements. As few as three <br />entries could be driven in special circumstances. The entries are used for intake and. return air <br />ventilation, coal haulage, and men and material transportation. The entries are driven parallel to <br />each other and are generally on 100 to 200 foot centers. Crosscuts are also generally on 100 to <br />200 foot centers. The entries are separated as necessary by stoppings. <br />2.05--7 Rev, 11104 -PRI I; 03/OG- PRIG; 07/15- MR413 <br />