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2.05 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND <br />MINING APPLICATIONS <br />2.05.1 Objectives <br />The information provided by this Section reviews plans for underground mining and <br />the associated surface operations which New Elk Coal Company, LLC will conduct <br />at the New Elk Mine during the current and future permit terms. Information is <br />provided in this section to ensure that operations are conducted to protect those <br />environmental resources identified in Section 2.04 of this application. <br />The Permit Boundary is shown on Map 3 Mine Plan. Information regarding surface <br />and coal ownership within and adjacent to the permit area is shown on Map Surface <br />Ownership and Map 2 Coal Ownership. <br />2.05.2 Operation Plan — Life of Operation <br />Background <br />During previous permit terms the underground workings were sealed and bond <br />release granted for those surface areas overlying underground workings not required <br />for continued operations of the surface facilities. Flooding of the mine since <br />temporary closure in 1989 has been monitored in accordance with the hydrologic <br />monitoring plan. During the more recent permit terms, the surface facilities were <br />used to process and ship coal from nearby mines. These mines, the Golden Eagle <br />underground mine and the Lorencito Canyon surface mine, have closed and are now <br />in final reclamation. The railroad tracks running from the Jansen Yard near Trinidad <br />to the New Elk mine were removed, as well as the unit train load out facility at the <br />East Portal. Obsolete buildings were removed and Phase I bond release granted for <br />most of the West Portal Area. <br />In 2007, New Elk Coal Company LLC acquired the New Elk Mine and all related <br />permits necessary to begin reentry into the mine and eventually resume mining. <br />Approval was received from MSHA to reopen the east portal airshaft and install a <br />vertical turbine pump to dewater the mine. Approval was received from DRMS to <br />construct a mine -water holding and settling pond adjacent to the east portal airshaft, <br />and drill and set a vertical turbine de- watering pump in a new borehole adjacent to <br />the East Portal Industrial Building. The pump was placed in operation in 2008. <br />Mine dewatering is expected to take up to six months and be completed by early to <br />mid -2009. <br />(1) Production Methods and Equipment <br />The New Elk Mine is a typical underground coal mining operation with access to the <br />Apache Seam through a set of incline slopes driven from the surface to the coal seam. <br />Ventilation is provided by two return air fans located at the East Portal and West <br />Section 2.05 TR -68 12/10/2014 <br />