Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OPERATION PLAN: PERMIT AREA <br />Introduction <br />This section describes the details of the mining plan which is to be used from 1999-2012. The <br />mining methods, including overburden and coal removal, coal supply agreement, and mining <br />equipment are described. For the Mid Term Review of 2006, the mining area has slightly expanded <br />within the same permit area. The total disturbance area is now approximately 765.6 acres over the <br />life of the mine. <br />The New Horizon 1 mine area has been reclaimed and is nearing the end of the bond release <br />period. <br />Detailed Operation Description /Mining Methods and Equipment <br />Mining at the New Horizon 2 Mine will occur by surface mining methods. The primary coal seam <br />to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; however, the Upper Dakota seam will be recovered if <br />it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. Maximum overburden depth will approach 110 feet. <br />• ; Mining cuts will have a generally north-south orientation and will progress westward except for the <br />area north of BB Road and east of 2700 Road, which will have an east-west orientation. <br />• <br />Mining activities began in early 1993. Excavation was performed by dozers, trucks and one shovel. <br />This same mining method and equipment selection will continue to be used. The mine sequence <br />is to first remove the topsoil with dozers, shovels and loaders loading trucks which take the material <br />to the regraded area behind the pit for reclamation. A loop road around the pit is used for this <br />operation. As described in Small Area Exemptions, a small topsoil berm of 4 ft to 18 feet high will <br />be placed at the advance edge of the pit so that all runoff from the topsoil excavation area is <br />trapped by this berm. Soft upper overburden may be removed by shovels and trucks and taken to <br />the back of the pit for backfilling using the same loop road. This road moves exactly as the pit <br />moves. Lower overburden is usually basted and loaded with a shovel and placed behind the pit <br />for backfilling. At the back of the pit, large dozers regrade the spoil overburden from the shovels <br />and the trucks into the original contour. The exposed coal is loaded with a rubber tired front end <br />loader into over the high way haul trucks which take the coal to the nearby power plant in Nucla <br />operated by Tri-State. The anticipated mining schedule for each area where mining will occur is <br />graphically shown on Map 2.05.2-1. Dates for actual mine progress and termination are based on <br />many variables and the progress shown on Map 2.05.2-1 is only approximate. Across section of <br />the typical pit is shown on Map 2.05.3-1. <br />(REVISED MARCH 2006) 2.05.3-3 <br />