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made (generally by drilling several "wildc t" test holesl, engineers and geologists, utilizing available <br />maps and information, establish an explor tort' drilling program to "prove up" the coal reserves. The • <br />drill hole pattern is determined and is norm Ily based on some convenient breakdown of the public land <br />survey system. Additional drilling is condu ted where the coal is expected to outcrop or where faulted <br />conditions are expected. Then survey cre s establish baseline control in order to locate the drill holes <br />and property corners. With this survey c ntrol available, the area of interest can be contour mapped <br />from aerial photography. With an accurst base map and all oT the necessary drilling information, the <br />engineers can calculate the various facto s necessary to establish a mining plan. In area surface <br />mining, these factors would include acres of coal available, tons of recoverable coal expected, cubic <br />yards of overburden to be removed, and th ratio of cubic yards of overburden removed per ton of coal <br />produced. These factors and others are xamined in the light of prevailing market conditions and a <br />determination made as to the potential ec nomic viability of a mine. Once a positive determination is <br />made and an annual output established f r the mine, the engineers determine the size, type, and <br />numbers of equipment or facilities need d, including topsoil removal equipment, primary stripping <br />machines, drills, dozers, loaders, haulage quipment, reclamation equipment, coal handling facilities, <br />and service facilities. Standard mine engin Bring practices, including the examination of contour maps, <br />borings, range diagrams, and manufactur is specifications, are utilized in sizing the major stripping <br />machines. Quantities of soils to be moved las determined by soil surveys) and the distances and travel <br />conditions involved are used to determ ne fleet type and size for topsoil handling equipment. <br />Overburden borings, indicating type and mount of rock, as well as expected production rates are <br />examined in sizing blasthole drills and pit ractors. Quantities of coal and rate of production are the • <br />major determining factors in sizing load rs and haulage equipment. The type and numbers of <br />reclamation equipment are dependent on number of factors, including quality and quantity of spoil <br />material to be graded, distances spoil mus be moved, projected postmine contour configuration, and <br />weather conditions. Type and size oft a coal processing facility are based upon the quality and <br />quantity of coal produced, the type of pro essing required, and the transportation facilities available to <br />handle the finished product. Service faciliti s such as shops, office buildings, warehouses, bathhouses, <br />powder storage, electrical supply lines, a d water lines are designed to be in conformance with all <br />applicable State and Federal safety regulat ons. Table 12-1, Mining and Reclamation Equipment, lists <br />the major equipment currently planned for se at Seneca II-W. <br />• <br />PR04 2 Revised 04/04 <br />