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51 <br />DWDA #3 are included as Exhibit 43. The DWDA #3 will be constructed in <br />accordance with the design recommendations. <br />DWDA #3 is located over a historical mine structure referred to as a rail/rope <br />slope. Prior to placement of waste at DWDA #3, the rail slope will be <br />demolished in accordance with the recommendations included in Exhibit 43. <br />(9) Return of Coal Processing Waste to Abandoned Workings <br />The New Elk Mine Preparation Plant receives mined coal from the multiple <br />seams at the New Elk Mine. As the coal is washed, refuse is deposited in the <br />thickener, dewatered by the belt press, and sent by conveyor to the Refuse <br />Disposal Area (RDA). Handling of these fines has caused problems for the <br />operating efficiency of the Prep Plant. The operator is proposing to dispose of <br />these fines by pumping refuse/water slurry into the abandoned working areas of <br />the New Elk Mine and recovering clear water from gravity dewatering for <br />returned use in the Prep Plant <br />Refuse fines will be recovered from the bottom of the thickener and pumped in a <br />eight inch inside diameter poly pipe to one of the refuse return wells, This line <br />will be laid on the surface except in areas where it will be buried to avoid roads <br />and other facilities. Exposed portions of the pipe will be heat taped to prevent <br />freezing. If maintenance work is required on the pipeline, berms will be <br />constructed to contain any spills or leakage. <br />The refuse slurry will consist of about 34 percent solids by weight and water will <br />be used as the transport medium. The slurry will flow down through the return <br />wells into the abandoned workings and disperse. Return water will be recovered <br />by a pump located north of the preparation plant and piped to the plant for reuse. <br />Slurry will be pumped at a maximum rate of 700 gallons per minute with return <br />water being pumped at the comparable liquid percentage to allow for makeup <br />water in the plant. The existing belt press system will be retained in the <br />preparation plant for additional backup in the event that the system is out of <br />service. <br />Areas to be backfilled will be sequenced from east to west (down dip to up dip). <br />The refuse return wells are located over an Allen Seam panel that has been <br />pillared. Solid barrier pillars will isolate new workings in the Allen Seam from <br />the flooded fine refuse disposal areas. The operation is not anticipated to change <br />the existing condition of the mine and will not have an effect on the surface area <br />supported by the mine or surface effects following backfilling. <br />The source of hydraulic transport medium for the slurry will be the makeup water <br />pumped to the prep plant which will be obtained from the existing mine pool in <br />the underground workings. Probing the clean water -recycling hole (NEW -4) has <br />Section 2.05 RN -6 10/17/2016 <br />