APPCOR12620

• Permit No: C1981047
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 3/5/1981
• Doc Name: CONTENTS OF RECOMMENDATION PACKAGE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

7

Coal Recover

The U.S. Geological Survev (IJSGS) has reviewed the proposed modification to
U.S. Steel Corporation's Mining, and Reclamation Plan to include mining of [he
E-Seam by Sunflower Energy Corporation. Rased on this review, USCS has found
the subject modification to be in compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act, and
the 30 CFR 2l1 requirements (particularly the requirement for maximum economic
recovery).
The mine plan proposes to mine the "E" or Hawksnest Seam of the Ilpper Coal
Member of the Cretaceous Mesa Verde Formation. This seam is the uppe rmosC of
Eive commercial coal seams in the lease area and is [he only scam included in
the sublease to Sunf Lo wet Energy Corporation. The "F," seam averages six feet
in thickness and has an estimated recoverable reserve of 490,000 tons within
the 95 acre sublease.
Quality analysis of "E" seam coal from existing operations on fee land, as
received, shows 3.8 percent ash, 0.5 percent sulfur, 40.3 percent volatile
matter, 54.7~percen[ Fixed carhop, ]"3,030 Btu/16., a grindahili[y of 54, and
an ash fusion temperature of 2330 .
The "E" seam is located approximately 280 Eeet helow the surface and IRO feet
above [he next mineable coal., "P" seam. Both the floor and roof rock are
composed of a darb: grey shale to shaley sandstone. The Iocai strata strike
north 77° west dipping 3-5° [n [he noctheast.
The major gentogic hazards which may he encountered are the release of methane
from the coal and mine instability, if seams below are mined beEor.e production
from the "E" seam has been completed. The other mineral resources that are
known to exist in the area of the proposed mine plan area the A, B, C, and P
coal seams of the Somerset Coal Field. A11 of these can he commercially mined
on sublease C-033.301 and may be included in future modifications of the mine
plan iE l.e.ase rights are acquired by Sunflower Ener,ey Corporation. However,
at present, only the R-Seam is being mined by the if ..S. Steel Corporation in
nearby areas.
Coal will he mined by room and pillar methods usinP. a continuous mir,iny_
mar.hine. The tract will be developed via four main entries, l8 fee[ wide on
80 toot centers with cross cuts 18 fee[ wide on ft0 foot centers [hat will
divide the [tact into two equal parts. A total of. sir, panels will be
developed (on the advance) with 18 foot wide entries and rooms and crosscuts
on 80 foot centers leaving h0 font square pillars. Using secondary methods,
these pillars will be mined during, retreat to leave a configuration of 8 foot
square pillars on 28 too[ centers. Sixty font barrier pillars wilt be left on
the east, west, and Werth sides of the lease react. 140 foot harrier pillars