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West Elk Mine
<br />surface facilities in Sylvester Gulch include but are not limited to mine ventilation shafts and fans, a
<br />substation, powerlines, electric mine borehole, nitrogen supply and methane drainage facilities, rock
<br />dust storage, mine water and sediment ponds and control structures, compressed air and other
<br />support facilities. Sediment control structures and coal handling facilities are described below in
<br />Sections 2.05.3(4) and 2.05.3(7), respectively. Waste handling facilities are discussed in Sections
<br />2.05.3(6), 2.05.3(8), and 2.05.3(9). The main support facilities for mine operation are described in
<br />this section.
<br />General Construction Procedures
<br />All work at West Elk Mine is conducted according to Federal and State water pollution laws, land
<br />reclamation statutes and regulations, and construction safety standards. Construction activities are
<br />planned and executed in a manner to protect the environment and minimize pollution and erosion.
<br />Three areas of primary concern during construction projects are safety, vegetation, and fires.
<br />MCC conducts its operations in a way that minimizes the potential safety hazards for each
<br />construction project. It also assures that its employees, contractors, and subcontractors understand
<br />MCC's and applicable environmental, and health and safety policies before each construction
<br />project begins.
<br />MCC's policy for woody plant removal is to keep removal to the absolute minimum. Under most
<br />circumstances, MCC refrains from cutting and removing timber and other woody plants outside the
<br />areas specified for construction. The only exceptions are for landscaping, erosion control, or fire
<br />prevention. When trees and other woody material are removed, they are shredded and used for
<br />mulch during revegetation or disposed of in an approved manner or area.
<br />All cut and fill slopes are designed and based on the recommendations of the geotechnical engineer.
<br />In constructing slopes, MCC uses appropriate methods, such as benching, staggered benches, slope
<br />rounding, feather -back clearing lines, roughened surfaces, and special revegetation work, to
<br />minimize the overall impact.
<br />MCC revegetates all those areas disturbed by mining activities as soon as practicable. The goal of
<br />the reclamation effort is to return the disturbed land to its original level of usefulness. Revegetation
<br />will establish permanent cover for erosion control.
<br />During construction, every effort is made to prevent fires at all times. Fuels, lubricants, explosives,
<br />and other potentially flammable items are stored in a manner to prevent fires. No burning of brush,
<br />timber, or other waste materials is allowed without clearance from the proper authorities having
<br />jurisdiction over open burning. Finally, if a fire does occur, trained fire control teams drawn from
<br />personnel at the mine site are prepared and available to extinguish it.
<br />Major Buildings and Structures
<br />The majority of the surface facilities at West Elk Mine are clustered together near the mine portals
<br />(Map 53). Major surface facilities at the main mine site include the office and bathhouse building,
<br />warehouse, maintenance shop, three -sided warehouse, surface shop building, bulk fuel storage area,
<br />205-16 Rev 06/05, 01/06, 03106, 04106 & 05/06- PRIO; 01/09- MR350, 04/09- TR116, 04/09- MR353; 05/09- MR354; 08/09- TRI18;
<br />08/09- TR119, 09/12- MR387; 11/12- MR390; 07/18-PR15
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