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East Pit has reached a steady state where acreage disturbed approximately equals reclamation in <br />any given year. However, reclamation of East Pit disturbed areas has been modified by <br />placement of West Pit development excess spoil. Extraction of coal from the East Pit is planned <br />through yeaz 2002 (Drawing 23, 1/20/97, TR-42) <br />The still expanding, large, multi-seam West Pit is located to the west of the East Pit. The method <br />of operation utilized in ,and the coal seams extracted from, the East Pit aze the same in West Pit, <br />and the West Pit will approach the Eas[ Pit in size. Mining in this pit will advance from north to <br />south, pazalleling the movement of the adjacent East Pit. Projected life of the West Pit is <br />estimated to be yeaz 2010 (Drawing 23, 1/20/97, TR-42). <br />The Section 16 Pit is located south of the East and West Pits. The northern boundary of the <br />Section 16 Pit will merge with these two south-trending pits. Mining of the Section 16 Pit is of <br />the "X" coal seam only and progresses from east to west. The projected life of the Section 16 Pit <br />is estimated to be year 2002. <br />A truck-and-shovel operation removes overburden from the top three to four seams in the East <br />and West Pits. Overburden removed in the truck-and-shovel operation is hauled around the <br />active pit and dumped into the active piton the other side. Blast casting and draglines are used <br />for the removal of overburden above the lower seams, and in the Section 16 Pit. Initial box-cut <br />material of the East Pit was placed in the Streeter Fill. Initial box-cut material of the West Pit <br />was placed in the West Pit permanent excess spoil fill. Initial box-cut material of the Section 16 <br />Pit was placed in the Section 16 Fill. <br />A scraper operation strips topsoil ahead of overburden removal. Stripped topsoil is hauled <br />directly to graded spoil areas on the trailing edge of the pits, or to topsoil storage piles for later <br />distribution during reclamation. <br />22 Revised October 30, 1997 <br />