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permit applications have been or will be submitted for the years 1996 through 2000, 2001 through <br />• 2005, etc. The permit area is described in Tab 3 of this application. <br />Coal Resource Protection and Conservation <br />Mining at Seneca II-W involves extraction of a single coal seam having varying overburden depths. The <br />initial choice of mining equipment type and size was based upon the type of mining conditions, <br />production requirements, the life of the mining operation, types and thicknesses of overburden, local <br />and regional dip, and thickness of the coal seam. Experience in mining at Seneca II-W has resulted in <br />the anticipated mix of excavation and support equipment. Auxiliary equipment has been matched to <br />the primary excavator and its capabilities. Mining activities are conducted to maximize the recovery of <br />coal while maintaining environmental integrity. <br />During reserve development, all the coal encountered during drilling is recorded. The correlatable and <br />estimated mineable seams are cored and analyzed. These data are utilized to finally determine mineable <br />reserves. The quality of the seams as welt as their occurrence in the geologic column is considered <br />when determining whether the seam is mineable or nonmineable. <br />The design of the cut widths are based upon the machine performing the excavation to prevent the pits <br />• from becoming too wide resulting in spoil material being placed on uncovered coal and leaving coal <br />fenders. Sloughing of spoil material onto uncovered coal is anticipated to occur infrequently. If <br />sloughing should occur, auxiliary equipment will be utilized to remove the spoil material so that the coal <br />can be removed. All coal fenders will be mined. Negligible amounts of coal should be lost because of <br />either of these two conditions. Further, it is in the operators best interest to recover the maximum <br />amount of coal possible once the overburden has been removed and the coal seam exposed. <br />The efficiency of the mining operations can be measured by the number of tons of coal produced per <br />acre foot ITPAFI. Based on drill hole data regarding seam thickness, coal partings, and extent and <br />laboratory analysis of specific gravity 11.30', in-place reserves are estimated to be 1,762 tons per acre <br />foot. Actual production will be calculated monthly using scale measurements and stockpile <br />fluctuations. Thrs production would be defined through the use of monthly aerial or engineering <br />surveys to an area where coal was actually removed to produce the TPAF recovered for each month. <br />The historical average recovery for the Seneca II-W mine is approximately 93.6 percent. Mined <br />tonnage is, therefore, estimated at 1,650 TPAF. This recovery is well within industry standards (Wood, <br />19831. <br />Although uncommon at the Seneca II-W Mine, coal tires may occur in the mined cut and spoil, coal <br />handling facilities, or reclaimed highwalls. It is in SCC's best interest to control fires and prevent loss <br />• of coal resource. Burning coal in these areas will be extinguished by removing and mixing the material <br />with noncombustible material to the extent practicable and burial with at least four feet of <br />noncombustible material, if appropriate. Water may be utilized in the coal handling Tacilities. <br />PR04 11 Revised 04/04 <br />