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<br />map(s), and timetable(s) sufficient to describe the azeal extent of the proposed undereround workines and the <br />• stratum to be affected. <br />RESPONSE <br />The mine openings are located in the NE'/. of the NE'/. of Section 32, TSN, R86W, Routt County, Colorado. <br />Currently, these portals provide the sole openings to the mine for men and materials, utility services and ventilation. <br />Additionally, another portal was driven northeast of the original portals. This portal provides man and natural <br />access into the mine. This portal is shown on Map 23, Mine Plan. The other openings into the mine include the <br />Fish Creek Borehole and ventilation shaft. These two facilities are shown on Map 26, Fish Creek Borehole Area <br />Facilities and Access Road. Surface disturbances are discussed under the response to 2.05.3(3) below. Disturbance <br />boundaries are defined by posts with bright fluorescent paint, fenced areas, orange surveyor markers, or the site <br />being fenced in. <br />Production of coal began from the portal slopes. A set of envies were driven toward the north (1~' Main North). <br />The 1" Main north will be developed approximately 8,000 feet to the north. Once this initial development has been <br />completed the north mains will be angled to the west and driven to the north permit boundary. <br />At a point approximately 1,850 feet north of the portals, a new set of mains (l~' Main West) was turned off toward <br />the west and were developed approximately 4,700 feet. Approximately 500 feet to the north of the 1" Main West a <br />second set of mains will be driven. These mains will be developed approximately 2700 feet to the west. During the <br />initial 2700 feet, the mains typically will consist of six entries. Depending upon conditions, the number of entries <br />may vary, up to a maximum of seven. Once development has progressed to this point, the 6-7 entries will be <br />necked down to a three entry gate road system for the remainder of the panel. <br />• A set of submains will be driven from l~' left heading and will extend approximately 3000 feet to the south. These <br />submains will consist of 5 entries and the gate roads for panels 7 through 9 will be developed from them to the <br />west. These submains are shown as I" South submains on Map 23. <br />The first set of 6 longwall panels will be developed to the west from 1" Main North. These panels will extend until <br />they reach either of two anticipated faults or until the 25° angle of draw line from the panel reaches the buffer zone of <br />Fish Creek, whichever comes first. An estimated 12.3 million tons will be recovered from this first block of Longwall <br />panels. <br />In order to explore and assess the fault zone on the west end of the panels, TCC wishes to extend the l~', 2"" and 3rd <br />Left entries beneath the Fish Creek AVF. These entry extensions will be similar in nature to the previously <br />approved 2"d West Main entries, which were identified in the 1986 Findings of Compliance Document as having no <br />potential adverse impacts upon the AVF. This determination is further supported by a Wilson Pillar Stability <br />Analysis which yielded a safety factor of 2.2 for the anticipated 35'x 80' pillar design of the proposed extensions. <br />TCC does not anticipate any major inflows to be encountered during the proposed extensions, but should excessive <br />inflows be encountered TCC will seal the affected entry extension. <br />TCC also plans to partially extend Panels 5 and 6 beneath the designated Fish Creek AVF. While extension was <br />not contemplated in the original Foidel Creek mine plan, mining experience indicates that subsidence associated <br />with longwall extraction beneath the designated AVF area will not result in significant surface impacts. In order to <br />objectively assess potential impacts on the designated AVF due to proposed panel extension, TCC completed <br />subsidence projections and evaluated related effects. The subsidence projections are based on existing available <br />subsidence data for TCC's ongoing longwall operations and reflect an increase in panel width for Panel 6 from 625 <br />feet (current panel width)to 850 <br /> <br />MR 99-166 2.05-12 APPROV~0 tf~V o ~ 1g~9 10/4/99 <br />