2016-12-08_PERMIT FILE - C1981014 (4)

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• mains, mining panels have been driven and extended to the limits of the minable coal reserves as illustrated by Figure 16, Typical Panel Development. As mining has advanced, EFCI has maintained barrier pillars adjacent to main and submain entries with dimensions of approximately 40- 50 feet in width. These barrier pillars are designed to provide effective long term support along critical haulage corridors. Within the mining panels, cross cuts are established at intervals of approximately 70-120 feet resulting in intermediate support pillars. These pillars are maintained during mine advance to support overlying strata and ensure access for progressive mining activities. Upon reaching the limits of the minable reserve, EFCI begins retreat mining, recovering as much coal as safely possible from remaining pillars during the retreat mining sequence. Detailed information on design pillar dimensions and pillar recovery sequence is presented in the MSHA Roof Control Plan included in Exhibit 16, Roof Control Information. • All development and production activities involve essentially the same methods and production equipment. Development advance and mine production are achieved by electrically powered continuous miners which utilize horizontally mounted rotating cutting heads to shear coal from the advancing coal face. The cutting head is mounted on a hydraulic boom which allows the operator to raise and lower the cutting head to achieve uniform recovery over the entire coal face. As coal material is cut from the face it falls to the mine floor where a gathering pan and gathering arms move the coal to a conveyor running through the center of the continuous miner. The conveyor discharges coal at the rear of the continuous miner to waiting electrically powered shuttle cars which operate as haulage units between the continuous miner and the feeder-breaker. Using an integral conveyor, the shuttle cars discharge to a feeder-breaker, which sizes and transfers the coal to the underground haulage conveyor. Conveyors in each operating section feed the broken coal to either submain or main conveyors which in turn . transport the coal to the surface. During the second five (5) year permit term, EFCI plans to mine coal reserves from three primary mine areas. 2.05.3-8