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The current surface coal handling facilities of NKC's King mine located in Hay Gulch would be <br />abandoned and reclaimed upon production from the East Alkali Tract beeomine the sole source of <br />coal for the market. Before the end of the life of the King Coal mine, new surface facilities would <br />be constructed to serve the mine accessing the East Alkali Tract. These new surface facilities would <br />be constructed on a lease issued by the State of Colorado which lies immediately to the south of the <br />proposed lease area. Standard surface buildings generally include abaihhouse, office building, shop, <br />truck scale and scale house, warehouse and a parking garage for mobile equipment. Coal handling <br />facilities usually include such components as a coal sure pile and associated stacker conveyor belt. <br />a coal crusher and screen, several conveyor belts, storage areas for various coal products and mining <br />supplies, and some type of truck loadout (either automated or front-end loader). The portal area <br />consists of a "highwall" cut at the level of the coal seam outcrop to allow construction of steel beam <br />tunnel supports for three to five portals. Typically, one of these portals will be the location of the <br />main ventilation fan, one will be the main conveyor belt access, and one or more will be for intake <br />ventilation and utility vehicle access. Often a refuse pile is needed for the storage of reject rock <br />which is separated from the coal. The size of this pile may vary. greatly depending on mining <br />conditions. A settling pond is required as a means of collecting rainwater which drains from the <br />disturbed surface areas. A system of ditches and culverts assures that uncontaminated "fresh" water <br />is isolated from disturbed area runoff. <br />r. <br />It is anticipated that the above structures, storage areas and water diversion structures will occupy <br />approximately five to ten acres, depending mainly on the existing topography of the area and its <br />relationship to possible portal *sites. A reclamation bond is required to be posted for all areas to be <br />disturbed. <br />All surface facilities will be 1o:.ated on State of Colorado Coal Lease <br />C-3388: Section 36, T3 5N, <br />RI 2W, N.M.P.M consisting of approximately 640 acres. It is estimatr;6'that about 50.000 to 100,000 <br />tons of State coal will be mined during the development phase of the project to establish long-term <br />access to the Federal coal reserves. The total project area will consist of 1944.51 acres delineated <br />. as follows: <br />SURFACE <br />Tribal surface =1224.51 acres <br />BLM surface = 80 acres <br />State of Colorado surf ...:e = 640 acres <br />MINERALS (coal) <br />Tribal coal = 0 acres <br />Federal coal =1304.51 acres <br />State of Colorado coal = 640 acres <br />Although the State of Colorado lease is 640 acres, only a very sma!] fraction of this lease will <br />actually be part of the project. Much of this.lease covers an area consisting of hay fields which are <br />below the coal seam outcrop, as area of very thin coal on the south siz.ie of Hay Guich, and an area <br />east of the surface facilities site with little or no practical access to r`•re federal coal reserves. <br />tollThe applicant proposes to enter the proposed lease area using the roo:r-and-pillar method of mining. <br />The mining plan consists of development of main and submain entriezJTofwhich panels are driven <br />5 <br />