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Plan and Precautions for Permanent Seals <br />At the Elk Creek Mine <br />Initial Preparations <br />A. The Bear Creek return shaft has been isolated from the mine entries by falling material that has <br />plugged the shaft for a distance greater than 50 feet from the bottom of the coal seam. In <br />addition, the remaining open area of the mine is separated by 120 psi seals from the entries <br />connecting to the Bear Creek Shaft. The ventilation fan has been removed from the facility. <br />For these reasons, work to seal the Bear Creek shaft may be done at any time and in any <br />sequence, regardless of any other work being performed in the Elk Creek area. <br />B. A minimum of 24 hours notice will be given to the District Manager that personnel intend to <br />restart the Elk Creek ventilation fan. <br />C. Agreements shall be in place so that two mine rescue teams are available to provide coverage <br />for the Elk Creek Mine, in accordance with 30 CFR 49.12. <br />D. Prior to fan restart, the explosion doors will be opened a minimum of 50% to allow a short <br />circuit of fresh air directly over the Elk Creek Fan. Sample tubing will be installed in the <br />return shaft in such a manner as to allow an undiluted sample of the gases exhausting from the <br />mine to be taken. The bottom of the sample tubing will be below the collar of the shaft, far <br />enough to be free from any influence of fresh air coming in from the explosion doors. <br />E. The fan will be started and personnel will remove themselves at least 1,000 feet away from the <br />fan exhaust. The fan will be allowed to run for a minimum of 48 hours before personnel <br />approach any of the mine openings. <br />F. After running for a minimum of 48 hours, the undiluted methane and oxygen levels exhausting <br />from the mine will be checked and adjustments may be made to the explosion doors as <br />necessary. Regulators near the portals may be adjusted as necessary to allow a minimum <br />quantity of 12,500 CFM in each slope entry. <br />G. Certified examiners will make their way into the slope entries on foot to check for hazardous <br />conditions, test for methane and oxygen deficiency, and determine the air direction and <br />quantity. Examiners will not proceed into the mine further than approximately 100 feet from <br />the portal. <br />H. After the examination is complete, the certified examiner will erect a visual/physical barrier to <br />keep all personnel from travelling further into the mine. Other miners will be allowed to enter <br />the mine to complete their work. <br />1. While working in any underground area of the mine, miners will be provided with multi -gas <br />meters for the evaluation of air quality. The multi -gas meters will be on and working at all <br />times while the miners are underground and working around and over the shafts. <br />J. Communication will be established from the surface portal area to the underground work area. <br />Communication may be either mine phones or portable radios. <br />K. Miners will install ventilation tubing down the slopes for future use. Diesel equipment may be <br />used to transport materials to the proposed seal locations. At all times when diesel equipment <br />is in motion in the slopes, personnel shall be located outby the piece of equipment. No one <br />shall proceed inby the diesel equipment until it has been shut off and blocked from motion. <br />All diesel equipment in use shall comply with the required examinations and permissibility. <br />The air quantity over the piece of diesel equipment shall be at least that specified on the <br />approval plate for that equipment. <br />