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<br />Mountain Coal Company <br />West Elk Mine <br />Deer Creek Shaft Project Plan <br />stockpiled, and identified with a siga This topsoil will be used in the reclamation phase <br />of the program <br />SHAFT CONSTRUCTION <br />"Ibis project is time sensitive. MCC is submitting this project proposal in May 2007, <br />expecting that adequate time is allowed to obtain all necessary approvals of the proposed <br />activities. Delays to the project could cause increased impacts due to winter construction <br />or delays to West Elk ATme operations. <br />MCC needs to construct the collars of the shafts in sufficient time during 2007, to <br />complete the work and adher to the USFS Winter Range Stipulation MCC is currently <br />bidding construction activities in this the 2007 construction season. Deer Creek Shaft <br />construction, in order to meet the timing of the mintIrg, needs to be completed in 2008. <br />The time required for shaft collaz construction (2007 season) is estimated to be 4 months <br />assuming v~,mmertime construction conditions. Adverse weather may lengthen the time <br />to construct and could cause increased impacts to the environment In 2008, the <br />construction activity is expected to be 7 months (May-November). <br />Because the anticipated shaft construction technique will be raised bore and raise- <br />bore/slashing for both the Deer Creek Shaft and the emergency escape shaft, cuttings <br />from these construction activities will be disposed in the mine-workings and will not be <br />stored on the surface. <br />Water for the construction operations may be pumped from portable tanks or the Dry <br />Fork of Minnesota Creek using high-pressure hose. Alternatively, water may be <br />transported to the construction site with mobile water cazriers. MCC owns water rights <br />for these water resources. <br />BLASTING AC'PIVITIES <br />MCC will need to conduct blasting, approximately 125-feet underground, in association <br />with the slash phase of shaft construction MCC will need to conduct a blasting analysis <br />to determine blasting effects on structures within the vicinity of the Deer Creek Shaft. <br />MCC will conduct the analysis with an outside consulting engineering Toro. After the <br />analysis has been conducted the results will be submitted to the Division. This will be <br />required before blasting can take place in wnjunction with the anticipated slashing in <br />2008. Only the collars will be constructed during 2007, and no blasting is anticipated <br />regazding the removal of colluvial materials during the collar excavation and raise-bore <br />phases of construction. <br />Because the blasting associated with the shaft is underground, and is in direct contact <br />with the mine, MCC will follow the Rules regarding the use of explosives at 4.08. <br />Page 9 of 13 <br />