2024-01-22_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A

Home Browse Search

West Elk Mine 2.05-20 Rev. 06/05, 01/06, 03/06, 04/06 & 05/06- PR10; 01/09- MR350; 04/09- TR116; 04/09- MR353; 05/09- MR354; 08/09- TR118; 08/09- TR119; 09/12- MR387; 11/12- MR390; 07/18-PR15; 11/18- MR430; MR438- 09/19; MR439- 11/19; 07/20- MR447; 6/22- MR464; 6/22 MR466; 6/22 MR468; 11/22 MR471; 07/23 MR474; 8/23 MR476; 09/23 MR477, 10/23 MR478, MR479, 1/24-TR152 Raw (untreated) water is pumped into the mine from freshwater pond FW-1 by pumps located in the water treatment plant. Water is used in the mine for dust suppression, supplying fire suppression systems and for the longwall shields hydraulic fluids. Wastewater Treatment Plant West Elk Mine has a package-type wastewater treatment plant to treat sewage from the mine's facilities. The plant has a capacity of 10,000 gallons per day. With an aeration basin and clarifier, the plant provides primary and secondary treatment. The wastewater treatment plant is operated under applicable state laws that govern wastewater treatment facilities, administered by the CDPHE. In 1996, MCC expanded the wastewater plant to increase the throughput capacity to 20,000 gpd. The expansion included a 3,000-gallon flow equalization tank, an additional clarifier and a flocculent system. The clarifier is added to provide additional retention and clarification as a passive safeguard to plant operation. The flocculent system will be used as a secondary safeguard that may be operated to enhance solids settling in the primary clarifier. In 2012, MCC enclosed the polishing pond (that provides additional chlorine contact time) in a buried 1,500 gallon baffled septic tank. Lone Pine Gulch Fan Site The Lone Pine Gulch portals were situated approximately one (1) mile west of Somerset, Colorado, at an elevation of approximately 6,480 feet. The Lone Pine Fan Facility was constructed in 1995, accessing the B Seam, to serve West Elk Mine as the primary ventilation facility for the then completed Northwest Longwall Panels (Nos. 1-7); the Jumbo Mountain Longwall Panels (Nos. 8 and 9), and the Southern Longwall Panels (Nos. 12, 13, 13A). These 12 longwall panels were isolated underground from the active workings, using explosion resistant seals, and the entire area was abandoned. Watertight bulkheads were installed in each of the portals in 2001. The designs, portal profiles, and plan view of the bulkheads are shown on Drawing Nos. 42A–1, 42A-2, 42A-3 included in Exhibit 42A, in Volume 7 of the Permit Document. The Lone Pine fan facility area was reclaimed in 2002 and 2003 and achieved final Phase 3 bond release (per SL-06) in July 2015. Sylvester Gulch (F-seam) Fan Site One of the components of the mine ventilation program is the Sylvester Gulch Fan. This facility is located in Sylvester Gulch, approximately one-half mile south of the mine facilities area. Information concerning the design and operation of the fan is contained in Exhibit 42. Sylvester Gulch Ventilation Shafts Site In order to assure adequate mine ventilation for West Elk Mine's current and future mining areas, ventilation shafts (both with fans for ventilation air intake) were constructed. Construction of the site for these large diameter intake shafts began during spring of 1997 and shaft sinking began in the fall of 1997. The ventilation fans and associated buildings, a nitrogen supply facility, mine ventilation air heaters, rock dust supply tank are also located on the Sylvester Gulch ventilation shafts bench. This ventilation facility is located approximately one half mile south of the Sylvester Gulch Fan (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction and operation of these ventilation facilities is contained in Exhibit 69.