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TAB 12 <br /> <br />COAL RESOURCE RECOVERY PLAN <br />Introduction <br />This tab describes in general terms all of those aspects of the mining operation which will be conducted <br />within the area estimated for life-of-operations and includes mining those reserves presently determined <br />to be economically recoverable by the area surface mining method. In addition, specific mining <br />operations to be conducted within the permit area, as defined in Rule 1, Section 1.04189) of the Rules <br />and Regulations, are described in detail. <br />The following narrative describes the mining methods and equipment, to be used at the Seneca II-W <br />Mine. <br />Mining Operations -Life-of-Operations <br />The general type of mining employed at Seneca II-W will be the area surface mining method. This type <br />of mining is utilized in many of the western and midwestern coal fields where the reserves cover <br />relatively extensive areas and the coal stratum lies at a fairly constant depth below the surface of the <br />• land. Reserves of this type are generally developed by conventional dragline or shovel methods which <br />are typified by the excavation of a sequence of relatively parallel pits extending several thousand feet in <br />length. The overburden from each successive pit is placed or "spoiled" into the previous adjacent pit <br />after the coal has been removed and the operation advances to a limit line, known as a recovery line, <br />which is determined by properly ownership, coal outcrop, coal quality, equipment limitations, prevailing <br />market conditions, or a variety of other inter-related factors IA.I.M.E. 19731. Prior to the overburden <br />removal stage, the mining area is prepared by clearing and removing the upper soils suitable for <br />revegetation, which are either stockpiled for future use or redistributed directly on graded spoil. After <br />the overburden and coal removal stages, the resulting spoils are graded to approximate original contour, <br />topsoiled, and seeded. <br />Normally, area surface mining is restricted to coal reserves which lie in a relatively level plane below a <br />level or gently rolling surface terrain. However, at Seneca II-W, the geologic structure is such that the <br />coal seam outcrops at the top of the mountain and dips at 18 to 25 percent, while the overlying <br />surface dips at approximately 18 to 20 percent, as shown by Exhibit 6-1 and 6-GX series. This results <br />in overburden thicknesses ranging from 15 to 100 feet, which lends itself to area surface mining. The <br />relatively high angle of dip on the coal seam and surface requires some modification of what would be <br />considered a conventional area mining pit progression. This modification will be detailed later in this <br />• seClion. <br />A general description of the engineering techniques utilized in the development of an area surface mine <br />must begin with the exploratory phase. After the initial discovery of a potential coal field has been <br />PR04 1 Revised 04/04 <br />