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Peabod <br />1111 ENERGY <br />Twentymile Coal, LLC <br />R,�, ,,IV <br />4115 Routt County Road 27 <br />MqR 1 �?®>>° o $ 9 3800 <br />0 80467 <br />�i�ision <br />DivisionofRecla�lnaEolirM,ment andSafetySafeton Specialist Mining&S/fa� a��o�' March 14, 2017 <br />Mining, y ty <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />(303) 866-3567 X 8120 <br />RE: Twentymile Coal, LLC - Foidel Creek Mine (Permit No. C-82-056), Technical Revision (TR17-87) <br />— Sandstone Sub Thickener Underflow Borehole and Pipeline <br />Dear Ms. Lynch: <br />Twentymile Coal, LLC (TC) had previously submitted and received approval for a Minor Revision (MR]7-303) <br />for a test borehole to be used to evaluate the condition of the No. 1 Entry of the 3SW Gateroad, as a possible <br />location for an additional thickener underflow borehole. Over the weekend, our underground crews observed <br />water in the vicinity of the 9 -Right and 10 -Right seals adjacent to our Main entries. In this area, ongoing <br />monitoring of the pooled mine water indicates significant (approximately 70 feet) freeboard, so it is unlikely that <br />the observed water is from a pooled mine water source. Given this consideration, it is likely that the observed <br />water is coming from the thickener underflow discharge in 8 -Right, and that a blockage in the area of 8 -Right is <br />causing the discharge water to back-up and move laterally through the caved gob, parallel to the stop -line <br />adjacent to the Main Entries. <br />In order to address this situation, we need to shift the thickener underflow discharge to another location. As a <br />temporary measure, we plan to shift the discharge to the existing approved 1 MN Replacement Thickener <br />Underflow Borehole (MR10-243). We previously experienced a minor blockage of this borehole, but expect <br />that it can be used for a short period of time until another borehole can be established. As a back-up plan, we <br />will re -excavate the incised holding basin adjacent to the Area 1 Pit (refer to page 2.05-32.3), which was <br />previously approved and utilized when we encountered a similar problem with the original 1MN Thickener <br />Underflow Borehole, to provide a buffer for temporary placement of underflow slurry, if needed. As a long - <br />ter solution, and assuming that the test borehole confirms favdrable conditions, we request approval to convert <br />the test borehole to a thickener underflow borehole and install a connecting pipeline that will extend <br />approximately 1,200 feet from the existing thickener underflopipeline at the IMN Borehole location to the <br />Sandstone Sub Borehole location (3SW Gateroad). If the test orehole does not indicate favorable conditions, <br />TC will probably proceed with the approved plan for the WMD Thickener Underflow Borehole and Pipeline <br />(TR 16-86). <br />Conversion of the test borehole to a thickener underflow borehole will not require any additional surface <br />disturbance or change the access or drainage control considerations already addressed and approved for MR17- <br />303. The test borehole will be bored out to 22 to 24 inches for the surface casing and 12 to 15 inches for the <br />finished borehole, a 16 to 18 inch surface casing will be set and cemented to a depth of approximately 60 feet, a <br />8 to 11 inch borehole casing will be set and cemented to a depth of approximately 420 feet, and an 8 -foot <br />covered CMP manhole with lightening protectiot will be set in-place to protect the well -head. Any mud pit s) <br />will be allowed to dry -out, will be backfilled with excavated material, and the surface area around the mann le <br />will be graded, and the pad and access will be graveled to control erosion and runoff. When the borehole is no <br />longer needed, the CMP manhole will be removed, the borehole will be plugged and sealed consistent with State <br />Engineer requirements, gravel surfacing material will be removed, and the area will be reseeded. <br />