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• (10) miles to the Southfield loadout. The highway haulage units which <br />carry approximately 25 tons of coal, are operated by a local contractor. <br />Before the coal leaves the mine property, trucks are weighed and spot <br />sampled to maintain accurate production records and provide for effective <br />quality control. <br />At the Southfield loadout, highway coal haulers dump the coal in open <br />windrows adjacent to the loadout rail spur. The Southfield loadout site <br />has an open storage capacity of approximately 400,000 tons. When rail <br />cars are available for loading, the railroad switches cars onto the <br />loadout spur and EFCI utilizes two (2) large front-end loaders to direct <br />load cars from the stockpiled coal. When loading is completed, the cars <br />are switched back onto the main track and the railroad becomes responsible <br />for train makeup and ultimate transportation to the coal customer. <br />Coarse and fine refuse from the coal preparation plant are transferred to <br />storage hoppers. EFCI utilizes these hoppers to load rear dump haulage <br />• trucks which take the coal refuse to the existing coal refuse pile for <br />ultimate placement and disposal. The coal refuse pile has been designed <br />to ensure long-term stability and minimize erosion. Upon completion of <br />refuse placement, stockpile areas are topsoiled and revegetated consistent <br />with proposed post-mining land uses. <br />NECESSITY FOR PROMPT PERMIT APPROVAL <br />Upon assuming ownership of the mine in 1985, EFCI began evaluation of both <br />short and long-term operational, marketing, planning and permitting <br />requirements. As a result of this evaluation, specific objectives were <br />identified and EFCI has proceeded to pursue those objectives including <br />development of comprehensive long-term operating plans and development, <br />submittal, and acquisition of necessary permit approvals. <br />Since mine acquisition, EFCI representatives have worked closely with the <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (LMLRD) to address short-term <br />requirements and develop a rational approach for long-term mine <br />permitting. In April, 1989 EFCI and CMLRD representatives met and <br />discussed plans for a comprehensive permit revision which would address <br />8 <br />