Laserfiche WebLink
<br />2.05.3 Operations Plan -Permit Area <br />• Each application shall contain a detailed description of the specific minine operations proposed to be conducted within <br />the Hermit area. This description shall include. at a minimum the followine: <br />Production methods and equipment. A narrative description of the specific type and method of wal <br />minine procedwes and proposed enQineerin¢ technioues, anticipated annual and total production of coal by tonnaee, <br />and the maior equipment to be used for all aspects ofthose operations. <br />RESPONSE <br />Introduction <br />The Foidel Creek Mine is an underground mine that utilizes the continuous and longwal] mining methods to extract <br />coal. The objectives of the overall operation plan aze to maximize resource recovery and productivity and optimize <br />production economics, while operating in a safe and environmentally protective manner. At full production, the <br />mine will produce up to12,000,000 tons per yeaz, contingent on required facility upgrades and obtaining all <br />necessary permit approvals. Depending on production levels, the remaining life of the mine will -range from 7 to ] 0 <br />years. This is based upon adding 26.7 million tons in the Eastern Mining District and does not reflect any possible <br />mining of the underlying Wolf Creek coal seam. <br />Mine Portal Openings <br />Access from the surface to the coal seam is provided by three declined rock tunnels. Each tunnel was excavated 18 <br />feet wide by 12 feet high, with an arched roof. The interior perimeter is supported by rock bolts, shotcrete, steel <br />rings and concrete. Each slope was driven from swface to the intersection of a full face of coal. <br />Slope No. 2 has a total length of 273.5 feet. It is the primary opening for intake air ventilation, and men and <br />materials transportation. The tunnel is declined at an angle of 12 degrees. To facilitate vehiculaz travel, a <br />reinforced concrete floor slab was powed for the full length of the slope. Slope No. 3 is 229.5 feet long and dips at <br />14 degrees. 1t is the conveyor entry and a neutral airway. The belt conveyor is roof-hung and is supported by a 42- <br />inch wide rigid structwe. Slope No. 4 was driven at 18 degrees for a total length of 155 feet, and serves as the <br />return airway. The main mine fan, attached to the portal opening of this slope, pulls clean air through the mine and <br />out the return slope. <br />>n order to enhance overall mine safety, and to facilitate transportation of men and materials in and out of the mine, <br />two new entries were developed to the east of the existing portal. Two new entries, called the eastern portals, were <br />driven from the inside of the mine out to daylight as shown on Map 23. Prior to mining the Federal coal from these <br />entries, a Federal Coal Lease approval was obtained from the Bureau of Land Management. <br />The eastern portal entries were broken through into the old pit floor left by the prior Colorado Yampa Coal <br />Company surface mining operation. This is the same pit that the existing portals were driven from. Approximately <br />17,000 CY of spoil was moved from the breakout azea to the eastern end of the pit. The spoil was pushed up to <br />grade in with the existing pazking area at the mine office location, and/or placed against the highwall. The spoil <br />will remain in the old pit and will not be carried outside of it. <br />In the excavation area, the spoil on the south side of the pit was sloped to 2H:1 V and the existing drainage ditch was <br />relocated on this slope. This will carry the upland flow around the eastern portals. The ditch remains the same size as <br />previously permitted. As shown on Map 24, Surface Facilities, all of the drainage will be routed to Pond D through the <br />existing drainage control system, except for the drainage in the immediate azea of the east entries. The runoff in this <br />azea is shown to drain into the entries. The runoff will flow down into the existing sump, and then it will pumped out to <br />the surface through TCC's existing discharge system. French drains will be constructed on either side of the entries to <br />• facilitate drainage ofthe azea. <br />TR06-52 2.05-3 02/7 i/06 <br />