PERMFILE61758

• Permit No: C1981022A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 7/12/2004
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05 Operation and Reclamation Plans
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

initially, the longwall mining system is being utilized to recover the Sanbom Creek B Seam reserves
• previously blocked out under existing approved mining plans. The initial longwall operations in the B
Seam axe providing valuable espexience and training for future longwall operations in the D Coal
Seam reserves to the north and west, which will be accessed from the new Elk Creek Mine portals.
Operation Description
Early mining operations in the area are identified and discussed in Section 2.04.3, Site Description and
Land Use Information, Recent operations within the Permit tlxea (post-1960) include the Somerset
Mine, Sanbom Creek Mine, and the new Elk Creek Mine.
The Somerset Mine ceased production at the end of 1985. The portals to the mine have been sealed
and no further mining is expected to take place from the Somerset Mine B and C Seam portals
located in the Elk Creek drainage. Reclaimed or partially reclaimed facilities areas associated with the
Somerset Mine ace located in Beax and Hubbard Creek Canyons. Surface coal handling, support, and
ancillary facilities for the Somerse[ Mine, originall}' established at the mouth of Elk Creek, have been
modified and upgraded over the years to meet changing operational and regulatory xequuements and
continue to be used to support ongoing operations.
The Sanborn Creek Mine is the current active mining operation, with coal production from the B
Coal Seam using ]ongwall mining methods. The active Sanborn Creek Mine is supported by limited
surface facilities located at the mouth of Sanborn Creek and north of the relocated railroad grade,
including the mine portals, substation, and ventilation installations. Current operations in the
Sanborn Creek Mine axe designed to produce approximately 4,000,000 to 4,800,000 tons of coal
annually. It is anticipated, that at current production rates, the existing B-Seam reserves in the
Sanbom Creek Mine will be depleted by approximately 2002. In order to maintain ongoing mining
• operations at a stable production rate, development work and initial production (development coal)
from the Elk Creek D-Seam Mine will be initiated in 2001. By the time the existing Sanborn Creek
Mine reserves axe depleted, development of the first longwall panels in the Elk Creek Mine will be
complete so that the longwall system can be moved from the Sanborn Creek Mine to the Elk Creek
Mine and longwall production from the Elk Creek Mine can be initiated with minimal delay. Final
production from the Sanborn Creek Mine will be scheduled to both meet coal sales commitments and
to gradually build-up the Elk Creek coal stockpile to maximum capacity. The stockpile will serve as a
buffer during the transition of longwall operations from the Sanborn Creek Mine to the Elk Creek
Mine so that coal shipments can continue during the transition period.
The Elk Creek Mine will access the D Coal Seam from portals located in the middle portion of the
Elk Creek drainage. The Elk Creek Mine will be supported by limited surface facilities also located in
the Elk Creek drainage near the D Seam subcxop including the mine portals, ventilation shafts and
fan installations, a substation, and dewatexing installations and surface water storage tank. Initial
development activities fox the Elk Creek Mine will involve the use of continuous mining equipment
to develop a system of main entries and to complete initial longwall panel development within the
private coal reserve block future development and muting would extend northward into the Federal
coal reserves in the Elk Creek Tract lease. Longwall mining of the coal reserves will follow initial
development. Future mining in the D Seam will involve the use of continuous methods fox mine
development and longwall mining as the dominant coal production method. There is the potential
that additional limited ventilation, electrical distribution, and emergency access development could
occur as mining operations progress to the west. OMI is aware that any such facilities and surface
disturbances would be subject to additional permit approvals.
The production rate fox both the existing Sanborn Creek Mine and the planned Elk Creek Mine is ox
• will be governed by coal sales. The minimum production rate is about 500,000 tons per year with a
maximum production rate of approximately 6,000,000 tons per year.
The Elk Creek coal handling, support, and ancillary facilities continue to be used to support ongoing
operations fox the Sanbom Creek Mine and will support future operations for the Elk Creek Mine.
TR42 2.05-2 Revised January 2003