2024-01-22_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (3)

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West Elk Mine 2.05-7 Rev. 11/04- PR11; 03/06- PR10; 07/15- MR413; 07/18- PR15, 01/24-TR152 to allow recovery of both seams using longwall mining methods. Likewise, the D Seam occurs as a thin coal bed in the West Elk Mine coal lease area and occurs too close below the E Seam to be economically recoverable. Where the D Seam merges with the overlying E Seam, the upper portion of the D Seam may be mined locally, with the E Seam. Previous mining operations in the F Seam have been unsuccessful. Because of seam thinning, poor roof conditions and coal quality, attempts to recover the F Seam have historically proven to be uneconomic. Table 31 Typical Equipment Used in Longwall Mining at West Elk Mine Equipment Type Principal Use Double Ended Ranging Shearer Cuts Coal From Longwall Face 2 Leg Hydraulic Shields Roof Support Pan Line With Chain Conveyor Transports Coal To Stage Loader Hydraulic Pump Station Powers Shields & Panline Advance Power Distribution Center Provides Electric Power To Shearer Conveyor and Other Equipment Longwall Support Equipment Move Equipment From Outside and Between Panels MCC will take all reasonable actions necessary to minimize waste and damage to the remaining coal resources by appropriate mine design and extraction techniques. Operation Description The primary mine facilities and portals were developed in Section 16, T13S, R90W in 1981 and 1982 to support continuous miner room and pillar mining in the F Seam. West Elk Mine was developed using continuous miners in a series of main entries, submain entries, and gate entry development. In 1990, slopes were driven from the existing F Seam main entries in Section 21, T13S, R90W to the underlying B Seam. A similar system of main entries, submain entries, and gate entry development was continued in the northern B Seam reserves. Development of main and submain entries and longwall panels in the E Seam was initiated in June 2004 from the existing F to B Seam slopes. In late 2015, three rock slope entries were developed from the E Seam to the southern B seam reserves. MCC utilizes two methods of mining coal at West Elk Mine. They are room and pillar for development mining and a retreat longwall system for production mining. Room and pillar mining was the only method used in the F Seam. It was and will be used in the B and E Seams for development mining. Longwall mining was and will be utilized in the B Seam and is utilized in the E Seam, as well. Room and Pillar Mining Method Development mining at West Elk Mine involves driving entries and cross-cuts through the coal seam and leaving coal blocks to support the overlying strata. The resulting entries provide travel-ways, ventilation, and locations for installing infrastructure to support mining activities. This infrastructure includes conveyors, power, water, communications, rock dust, etc. For development mining, MCC uses a system of continuous miners, haulage vehicles, and a conveyor system to cut and transport the coal out of the mine. First, continuous miners cut the coal from the seam. This cut coal is then loaded from the miners into diesel or electric haulage vehicles. Finally, the haulage vehicles transport the coal to the conveyor system for