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follows the single-seam operation approximately one year behind mining with total recoverable coal reserves in Section 11 estimated to be 3.6 million metric tons. West Pit A new, large, multi-seam West Pit is proposed to the west of the existing East Pit, and this pit will mine the same coal seams a5 the East Pit. Mining in this pit will advance from north to south, paralleling the movement of the adjacent East Pit. Mininq of the West Pit will proceed in a manner similar to that of the East Pit. Initial box-cut material of the West Pit will be stored with that from the Section 16 Pit to be used in final backfilling of the West Pit. Projected life of the West Pit is estimated to be eighteen years. Section 16 Pit The Section 16 Pit is a new pit proposed to be located south of the East and West Pits. Tne northern boundary of the Section 15 Pit will merge with these two south-trending pits. Mining of the Section 16 Pft will be of the "X" coal seam only and will progress from both the east and west, converging onto a central north-south trending ridge. This central ridge will be left intact for use in final backfilling and grading of the proposed West Pit. Initial box-cut material for the Section 16 Pit will be placed in a temporary spoils stockpile with materials from the West Pit to be used in final backfilling of the West Pit. The projected life of the Section 16 Pit is estimated to be four years. Coal Production Extraction of coal 1s projected to continue until the year 2010. Coal production is estimated to be 5.0 million metric tons per year for the next five-year period and subsequent years. Production in 1990 was estimated to be 4.1 million metric tons. Maximum coal production is proposed to increase from 4.5 to 5.0 million metric tons per year. Recovered coal is trucked to a primary crusher and coal stockpile located just north of the East Pit. From there coal is trucked to a secondary crusher and coal stockpile located approximately four miles north at the Gossard Loadout. Stoker coal 15 crushed, stored and loaded separately from other coal at the loadout. Both types of coal are shipped to customers by rail. Reclamation Plan The reclamation plan for Colowyo is found in Sections 2.05.4 and 2.05.5 of the permit application, A partial summary of this plan is given here. For a more complete summary and references to specific portions of the permit application, see Section B of this document. -8-