2015-09-03_PERMIT FILE - C2010089 (6)

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OPERATION PLAN: Estimated Area for Life of Mine Introduction This section describes the general plan for mining activities at New Horizon North Mine to be used during 2012 — 2020. The mining methods, including overburden and coal removal, coal supply agreement, and mining equipment are described. The total disturbance area is approximately 279 acres over the life of the mine. Map 2.05.2-1 shows mine plan with estimated life for New Horizon North Mine. Operation Description / Production Methods and Equipment Mining at the New Horizon North (NHN) Mine will occur by surface mining methods. The primary coal seam to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; however, the Upper Dakota seam will be recovered if it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. Maximum overburden depth will approach 100 feet. Mining cuts will have a generally east -west orientation and will progress northward. NHN Mine development activities are expected to begin in early 2012. The initial activities will include the construction of the surface facilities such as mine access, haul roads, warehouse, office, bathhouse, leach field and water well. The mine development will encompass the initial opening of the coal face at the northern boundary of the old NH mine. This task will most probably be performed by outside contractors. Once the mining in the existing NH2 Mine is completed in mid -2013, heavy mining equipment from New Horizon 2 Mine will be relocated to the New Horizon North Mine by walking over a temporary corridor across land privately owned by Western Fuels -Colorado. This corridor will be approximately 4,200 feet in length by 50 feet wide and is included within the proposed mine permit boundary. The equipment can traverse the corridor without any construction and minimal disturbance, except where the route crosses Tuttle Draw. At this crossing, there will be a cut and fill approximately 200 feet in length and 50 feet wide with a 30" culvert installed in the drainage. Following relocation of the equipment, the crossing will be removed and reclaimed. The detailed design for the crossing will be included as part of the submittal to the Army Corps of Engineers for a 404 permit. A plan and profile view for this corridor and the Tuttle Draw crossing can be viewed on Map 2.05.3-2 in Section 2.05.3. Then NHN Mine excavation will be performed by dozers, trucks and one shovel. The mine sequence is to first remove the topsoil with dozers, shovels and loaders loading trucks which take the material to a designated stockpile or, in later years, to the regraded area behind the pit for reclamation. Soft upper overburden may be removed by shovels and trucks and taken to a designated stockpile or the back of the pit for backfilling. If taken to the pit for backfilling, large Section 2.05.2 Page 1 August 2015 (MR -15)