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• 2.05.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area <br />(1) Production Methods and Eouioment <br />The Operator has selected its mining procedures on the basis of <br />past and present adjacent underground mining operations, the nature <br />of the overburden, and the structural setting of the coal seams. <br />Each phase of the underground mining operation has been carefully <br />scheduled so that all equipment can be operated in situations <br />suitable to its design capabilities. The overall operation plan is <br />designed to flow logically from entry development through pillar <br />extraction upon retreat. The plan is designed to maximize coal <br />recovery and minimize environmental disturbances. <br />The C-Seam was mined in Federal Coal Leases C-0117192, D-052501 and <br />D-044569 using underground mining method of room and pillar mining. <br />The extent of mining performed in the No. 3 Mine C-Seam is <br />presented on Map 9. The B-Seam is currently being mined in Federal <br />Leases C-0117192 and D-052501. The B-Seam Mine Plan is presented <br />on Map 9A. <br />The Operator has used room and pillar mining for many years, and <br />has found that this method of mining has proven to be very <br />effective, economical and efficient for recovery of coal reserves. <br />(2) Operation Description <br />Initial Development <br />The initial mining in the Bear No. 3 Mine began with the reopening <br />and stabilization of the abandoned workings of the old Edwards <br />Mine. Roof support and ventilation was reestablished to provide <br />access into the coal reserves. <br />Mining commenced from the outcrop of the C-Seam with some new <br />development entries being driven to complement the existing entries <br />found in the Edwards Mine. The main entries were typically <br />developed utilizing a continuous miner that developed 16-foot wide <br />entries on 70-foot centers which leaves a nominal 50-foot by 50- <br />foot support pillar. <br /> <br />2.05-2 Rev. 11-30-93 <br />