2020-06-25_REVISION - C1981019 (6)

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RULE 2 PERMITS 2.05.2 Operation Plan - Estimated Area for Life of Operation Information regarding the permit term is delineated in Section 2.01.5. Information for the operation plan is delineated in Section 2.05.3. Likewise, for purposes of this application, the permit area identifies the area for the life of the mine. Colowyo will employ detailed and current engineering designs for all surface mining activities in order to maximize coal recovery. The open pit mining technique minimizes or eliminates coal rib losses and coal fenders. The mining operations described in Section 2.05.3 are designed for maximum coal recovery. 2.05.3 (1) Operation Plan—Production Methods Colowyo has selected its mining procedures on the basis of information from numerous exploration drill holes which penetrated the overburden, the interburden, and the coal seams. Each phase of mining has been carefully scheduled so that all equipment can be operated in situations suitable to their design capabilities. The overall operation plan is designed to flow logically from topsoil removal through reclamation. The plan is designed to maximize coal recovery and minimize environmental disturbances. Colowyo's operation plan is described in detail within Volume 1, Section 2.05.3. Topsoil removal schedules and stockpile locations are delineated on the Topsoil Handling Map, (Map 28). The amounts of topsoil to be replaced is found in Volume 1 on Table 2.05-1. Topsoil will be removed from an area primarily during the summer and fall months to allow for one year of mining advance. A buffer zone,with topsoil removed,will be left between the undisturbed area and the crest of the pit. Once the overburden is sufficiently fragmented to allow for efficient removal and loading, overburden removal will commence. The location of the area to be mined is shown on the Mine Plan Map (Map 23A). Colowyo will utilize two distinct methods of overburden removal in the mining operation of South Taylor: (1) truck/shovel techniques and (2) dragline technique. By combining the use of both shovel and trucks, and draglines, Colowyo can both efficiently and economically handle the logistics involved in a multiseam, open pit coal mine. The truck/shovel operation will be used to open up the initial boxcut, and then will be generally utilized in removing overburden over the upper coal seams. In some areas of the pit the truck/shovel will be utilized by taking all seams from the "X3"to the "G8" (X3, X4, BO, B1, B2, B3, C5, D1, D2, E2, F1, F6, F7, FA, FB, G7 and G8). In the dragline portions of the pit the dragline will generally uncover the "F6"through the "G8" (176, F7, FA, FB, G7 and G8). From time to time, based on production requirements, truck/shovel or loader/truck methods may be utilized to assist the dragline operation in the lower seams. The overburden material is removed in a series of lifts or benches; the height of these benches will be influenced by the distance between the coal seams to be mined (see Map 24B, Mining Range Diagrams), and the equipment mining those benches. Overburden removal by the, truck/shovel method progresses on approximately 170-240 foot wide benches and has a maximum highwall height of about 60 feet. Electric shovels or front-end loaders load this overburden into 50, 170, 190 or 240-ton trucks. The trucks then haul the overburden around the active coal pit and dump this material into the mined-out or stock pile areas. The truck/shovel operation will always precede the dragline operation in the multiple seam pits. South Taylor/Lower Wilson—Rule 2,Page 66 Revision Date: 6/22/20 Revision No.: MR-220