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2.06.9 Augering Pits 6, 7 and 8 will be stripped to expose a bench approximately 100 feet wide. Coal from the exposed seam underlying the bench will then be removed by the strip methods described in Section 2.05. the coal seam will then be exposed at the base of the highwall. The Rockcastle Company will use an augering machine to remove an addi~ tional 100 to 150 feet of coal. To calculate volumes of material to be moved and determine surface disturbances, cross sections at 100_foot intervals were taken from the topographic map and plotted. These drawings showed the height of the highwall and the width of the bench. The surface disturbances which will occur are shown on the Mining Plan Map. The Rockcastle Company will follow augering techniques which provide for safety while maxi_ mizing recovery of the coal resource. In general, auger holes will have a diameter approximately equal to the thickness of the coal seam, or slightly smaller. Actual hole diameter will depend on variations in the coal seam thickness and on equipment availability. No more than 2,500 feet of horizontal augering will be performed along the coal seam without leaving a 250_foot wide unmined area. There will be one unmined area approximately in the center of Pit 6 and one unmined area near the center of Pit 7. Pit 8 is small enough • so that no unmined area will be required. An elevation view of a typical augering area is shown on Figure 2, page V_17. The coal at Pits 6, 7 and 8 dips about 5° to the northwest so there will be no drainage from the auger openings. Each auger opening will be sealed within 30 days following completion by returning over_ burden to that particular area. Slopes are such that approximate ori_ ginal contours can be achieved. The Reclamation Plan Map shows proposed contours for the strip and auger areas. Reclamation and seeding will follow the same pattern as for Pits 4 and 5. Figure 1 is a series of sequential drawings showing how strip and augering is accomplished. Additional Information Applicant Wishes to Submit There are three temporary facilities which are not included on the Mining Plan Map. These are' the temporary shop building, temporary equipment storage area, and temporary fuel and lubricant storage area. The shop building is a wooden beam and corrugated metal structure approximately 20 feet by 50 feet that is erected at each active pit as mining progresses. It is erected at each pit over an area that has been backfilled with overburden and leveled, but not topsoiled. Similarly, the equipment storage and temporary fuel and lubricant storage areas are in the same general area as the shop, and the three • occupy an area approximately 100 feet by 200 feet. These facilities will be moved from pit to pit to follow the working equipment fleet. V_15 8_81