Laserfiche WebLink
• Production crews utilizing continuous miners can provide the necessary development of future longwall <br />panels and mains. One production crews is usually required for the longwall. Other crews are <br />required for maintenance and support work. <br />Longwall panels LWfi through LW-9 were mined during 1993-1996. The LW-9 panel was only <br />partially mined when the mine caught on fire on January 31, 1996. The whole district was eventually <br />sealed on February 14, 1996 because the fire could not be controlled. Thus, the remaining LW-9 <br />panel and other panels planned for mining, behind the seals, were abandoned. Anew D-Seam mine <br />plan with a revised mining sequence was prepared. Under this plan, in 1996, South Mains Right was <br />further developed to provide access for room-and-pillar panel RP-1, all longwall gatercads were <br />developed and mining of RP-1 and RP-2 occurred. In 1997, RP-1 and RP-2 were mined out and <br />mining of LW-10 resumed. LW-11 and LW-12 were subsequently mined out and the D-seam sealed <br />in 2000. <br />Development work in the B-seam started in 1997. Longwall mining of the B-seam started in 2000 with <br />LW-1 B. Additional longwall panels are mined as resources are depleted. <br />All the water produced outby the sealed area, from mining as well as natural ground water will be <br />• pumped into the mined out and sealed D-seam. Therefore, no surface discharge of this water is likely <br />in the near future. There will be no effects to existing ground water due to storage in these areas. <br />III.A.4 Mining Eauioment Because a mixed mining method is planned for the Deserado Mine, two <br />different equipment systems are required, one set for longwall mining and several sets for room and <br />pillar mining. <br />The longwall equipment consists of a shear to cut the coal and an armored conveyor to transport the <br />coal to a stage loader which loads the coal onto the longwall panel conveyor. Shield-type supports are <br />used to provide roof support in the immediate face areas. <br />The room and pillar equipment consists of continuous miner units, each containing a continuous miner, <br />two shuttle cars, one roof bolter and a scoop. <br />Although the coal seams are not expected to produce significant amounts of groundwater, the mine <br />drainage system is designed to dewater the mine quickly enough to prevent any safety hazard to <br />workers or equipment. <br />• Midterm Review (8/2002) III-7 <br />