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

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West Elk Mine 2.05-9 Rev. 11/04- PR11; 03/06- PR10; 07/15- MR413; 07/18- PR15, 01/24-TR152 Longwall Gate-Roads Room and pillar methods are used to develop gate-road entries for the longwall mining equipment. Generally, two to five parallel entries are driven on 100 to 200 foot centers. A three- entry yield abutment design has typically been used. The size and configuration of longwall gate pillars is based on the regional geology, and depth of cover. Longwall panel barrier pillars are left to protect main entries and bleeder entries. Bleeder Entries Bleeder entries were developed to ventilate active and previously mined longwall areas until those areas were permanently sealed. Bleeder entries were connected to the main return air ventilation system. In November 2009, the main mine ventilation system for the E seam and southern B seam was converted to a blowing system that includes a “bleederless” ventilation system resulting in each panel being progressively and/or completely sealed upon completion of mining of that panel. Barrier Pillars A barrier pillar is a large block of solid coal left in place to protect active mine workings. Barrier pillars are left between longwall panels and main entries, between submains and longwall panels, or in other areas, as needed. Barrier pillars vary in size, and designs are based primarily on life- expectancy and degree of protection required for the barrier. Design criteria include depth of overburden, horizontal stresses, etc. In all cases, the dimensions of barrier pillars will be adjusted for prevailing conditions, to provide the protection for which they are intended. Mining Under Restricted Areas No major buildings, major structures, occupied dwellings, cemeteries, parks, railroads, or highways overlie the coal planned for extraction at West Elk Mine. Although two reservoirs are within the coal lease area controlled by MCC, the reserves in the E and B Seams under these reservoirs have been legally severed from the lease. As such, no mining is planned beneath any portion of these reservoirs. Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek runs through the coal lease area and conducts water from Deep Creek Ditch to Minnesota Reservoir. As discussed in Section 2.05.6, longwall mining, rather than leaving pillars or coal barriers, is less impacting to the stream, and any downstream water uses are effectively protected by MCC’s approved adjudication plans. Health and Safety General Mine Safety MCC has established that it is the responsibility of all employees to make the environment and health and safety their first consideration, and that no phase of operation or administration has greater importance. Achieving safe and environmentally sound performance of tasks in