2006-06-02_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (2)

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West Elk Mine . barrier pillars will be adjusted for prevailing conditions, to provide the protection for which they are intended. Longwell Mining Methods MCC is using longwall mining technology in the B Seam and has plans to continue this method of mining in the E Seam. Longwell panel layouts consist of gate-roads driven by continuous miners, a 600 to 1,100 foot wide longwall face, necessary ventilation entries, and barrier pillars. After the ventilation and gate-road entries are completed, a longwall set-up or starting room is driven at the inby end of the panel. Longwell equipment is moved in and assembled. Once equipment is ready, the longwall system mines the panel in a retreat fashion until it reaches the main entry barrier pillar. The equipment is then disassembled and moved to another panel. Minine Under Restricted Areas No major buildings, major structures, occupied dwellings, cemeteries, parks, railroads, or highways overlay 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, would be less impacting to the stream, and any downstream water uses are effectively protected by MCCs approved adjudication plans, Health and Safety General Mine Sgfety 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 relationship to man, machines, and the environment is a core value, as opposed to a priority. To this end, MCC has developed an environmental, health and safety policy for West Elk Mine. This policy is available for review at the mine, Expiosives and B[astinr The mining techniques used at West Elk Mine do not require blasting as part of the regulaz extraction cycle. Occasionally, explosives are used for underground construction purposes, the removal of large rock or rock spazs in the mining azea, and when cutting rock is prohibitive with mining equipment. These uses require relatively small quantities of explosives. MCCs . formal Explosives Handling and Blasting Procedures are presented in Exhibit 41. Map 53 shows the location of the powder magazine. 1.05-9 Revised November 2004 PRlI; Rev. March 1006