Laserfiche WebLink
1 <br /> 2.05 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND <br /> MINING APPLICATIONS <br /> 2.05.1 Objectives <br /> The information provided by this Section reviews plans for underground mining and <br /> the associated surface operations which New Elk Coal Company,LLC will conduct <br /> at the New Elk Mine during the current and future permit terms. Information is <br /> provided in this section to ensure that operations are conducted to protect those <br /> environmental resources identified in Section 2.04 of this application. <br /> Information regarding surface and coal ownership within and adjacent to the permit <br /> area is shown on Map Surface Ownership and Map 2 Coal Ownership. The Primary <br /> Permit Boundary is also shown on Map 1 and Map 2. The Permit Boundary also <br /> includes the Jansen Loadout(Exhibit 40),the former Golden Eagle site, and <br /> monitoring well sites located outside the Primary Permit Boundary. The Jansen <br /> Loadout is a 10.5 acre loadout located west just outside of Trinidad. The former <br /> Golden Eagle site is a 2 acre site located east of the Primary Permit Boundary and is <br /> shown on Maps 1,2, and 3. <br /> 2.05.2 Operation Plan—Life of Operation <br /> Background <br /> During previous permit terms the underground workings were sealed and bond <br /> release granted for those surface areas overlying underground workings not required <br /> for continued operations of the surface facilities. Flooding of the mine since <br /> temporary closure in 1989 has been monitored in accordance with the hydrologic <br /> monitoring plan. During the more recent permit terms,the surface facilities were <br /> used to process and ship coal from nearby mines. These mines,the Golden Eagle <br /> underground mine and the Lorencito Canyon surface mine,have closed and are now <br /> in final reclamation. The railroad tracks running from the Jansen Yard near Trinidad <br /> to the New Elk mine were removed, as well as the unit train load out facility at the <br /> East Portal. Obsolete buildings were removed and Phase I bond release granted for <br /> most of the West Portal Area. <br /> In 2007,New Elk Coal Company LLC acquired the New Elk Mine and all related <br /> permits necessary to begin reentry into the mine and eventually resume mining. <br /> Approval was received from MSHA to reopen the east portal airshaft and install a <br /> vertical turbine pump to dewater the mine. Approval was received from DRMS to <br /> construct a mine-water holding and settling pond adjacent to the east portal airshaft, <br /> and drill and set a vertical turbine de-watering pump in a new borehole adjacent to <br /> the East Portal Industrial Building. The pump was placed in operation in 2008. Mine <br /> dewatering is expected to take up to six months and be completed by early to mid- <br /> 2009. <br /> (1) Production Methods and Equipment <br /> Section 2.05 RN-7 7/16/2019 <br />