Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 - PERMITS <br /> 2.05.2 Operation Plan — Estimated Area for Life of Operation <br /> This section describes the general mine operation, production methods, mine sequencing and <br /> surface disturbances associated with the portal area and related surface facilities for the PSCM <br /> underground coal mine. The information presented in these sections provides a basis for the <br /> understanding and evaluation of potential mining-related impacts and development of appropriate <br /> plans for conservation of resources and control or mitigation of mining-related impacts. The <br /> operations plan presented herein describes an initial startup phase which develops into a steady-state <br /> coal mining operation with a full buildup of facilities/structures. As a stand-alone permit <br /> application, this section addresses development, mining, and reclamation of any related surface <br /> disturbance achievement of the postmining land uses consistent with the existing land uses and <br /> provides for mitigation of potential mining-related impacts as required by Section 4.01.1. <br /> Surface disturbance at the PSCM will be limited to an excavated face-up area for the underground <br /> portal access, related facilities including soil and coal stockpiles, one million gallon water tank, <br /> maintenance facilities, coal handling facilities, roads and parking areas, drainage and sediment <br /> control structures, and related ancillary facilities. As the mine expands, additional ventilation and <br /> dewatering installations may be needed, resulting in additional minor disturbance for any new <br /> facilities. Any required new facilities will be addressed by future revisions to the permit. <br /> Continuous miners will develop the mine and extract the coal. Continuous miners (CM) will be <br /> used to extend the main entries and sub-entries and develop sections during the initial development <br /> in this permit term. Any future full-scale mining would be permitted separately as a revision to the <br /> permit Map 2.05.2-M1, Life of Mine Map, shows the anticipated initial five (5) year and future <br /> mining blocks. <br /> Production Methods and Equipment <br /> Historical mining operations in this area include the adjacent Seneca II Mine on the east and Yoast <br /> Mine to the west both were surface mines that mined the near-surface coal, and which have <br /> subsequently been reclaimed. The PSCM permit area partially overlaps portions of the Seneca II <br /> mine. PSCM's portal area and underground workings will begin adjacent to the final Seneca II <br /> Mine highwall, in an area of undisturbed bedrock and coal. A more detailed description of historic <br /> surface mining activities is included in Section 2.04.3, Site Description and Land Use. <br /> The PSCM proposes to underground mine the underground portion of the Wadge coal seam lying <br /> between the Seneca II and Yoast surface mines in order to maximize recovery of the coal resource. <br /> The proposed PSCM underground mine is in an area that is uneconomic for surface mining methods <br /> due to the depth and dip of the coal seam. The PSCM will disturb or redisturb a total of <br /> approximately 146.4 acres (79.6 acres previously disturbed and reclaimed) for the portal facilities <br /> and access road out of a permit area containing approximately 10,164 acres more or less. If mining <br /> conditions prove favorable, and mining operations continue, surface disturbance areas and the <br /> associated facilities will continue to be utilized for the ongoing operations and will be reclaimed <br /> when no longer needed to support ongoing or future operations. <br /> The Wadge coal seam in the proposed mine area lies in a syncline. The average dip of the coal is <br /> approximately 9.7 degrees to the west, and the strike of the seam is approximately north-south. The <br /> main entries are projected to transect the dip of the Wadge seam to allow the continuous miner <br /> RN15-01 2.05-3 Revision 10/17 <br />