PERMFILE64512

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 7/24/2007
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 77 Deer Creek Shaft Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Mountain Coal Company
West Elk Mine
Deer Creek Shaft Project Plan
DEER CREEK SHAFT PROJECT PLAN (23 May 2007)
The proposed project consists of:
• Using raise-bore and raise-bore slash constntction methods to bore the shaft from
underground within the mine to create a 24feet diameter by 400-feet deep
(approximate) shaft and a 6-feet diameter by 400-feet deep (approximate)
emergency escape shaft;
• Building a housing structure to enclose the emergency escape shaft and electrical
generation equipment for the emergency escape hoist;
• Performing interim reclamation on the pad and light-use mad once the sha8 and
associated structures are conshucted; and
• Closing the shafts and performing Seal reclamation when these features are no
longer needed at the end of the mine life (circa 2020).
The purpose of the Deer Creek Shaft is to provide ventihrtion for the mine. This shaft
will be designed to function without a ventilation fan. 17te emergency escape shaft is
proposed to support the mine evacuation plans and meet 1~Tme Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) requirements for the mine. The emergency escape shaft is not
planned to be an active component of the mine ventilation system Both the Deer Creek
Shaft and the emergency escape shaft will be built on the same pad.
The project area is located on lands managed by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky
Mountain Region, Grand Mesa -Uncompahgre -Gunnison National Forest, Paonia
Ranger Dishrict For purposes of this submittal, one location, referred to as the mad and
pad, are discussed, though several alternatives were considered initially by the USFS.
The proposed project is within the current coal lease area on Federal Coal Lease C-1362,
held by Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C., and is within the permit area boundary.
The pad site is approximately 1682 feet southeast of the Minnesota Reservoir. The pad is
located in the NE '/, of Section 32, T.liS, R90W, 6t° Principal Meridian, in Gunnison
County, Colorado. A surface map titled, "Proposed Deer Creek Shaft TR-109" at the
scale of 1" = 800' is provided to depict the general location of the proposed shaft site in
relation to the mine pemrit and lease boundaries and other mine features. A 1" = 100'
scale drawing titled, "Deer Creek Shah Location TR 109" is attached showing a detailed
pad layout for the proposed sha8 location Map 1 - USGS Topographic Map with
Srirface Facilities, Lease and 5-Year Permit Areas (attached) from the West Elk Mine
Mining and Reclamation Permit has been modified to indicate the location of the project
Surface features include an existing light-use road extending from the Minnesota Creek
Road (USFS 711) at a point south and east of Minnesota Reservoir and west of Deer
Creek, and leading southwest on the contour to the shaft site. The pad and mad has an
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