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Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br /> The McClane Canyon Mine is an underground coal mining operation. The permit area encompasses <br /> 2,560 acres, of which 2,189.7 acres are projected to be affected by mining. Approximately 400 acres have <br /> been affected by underground workings to date. Permitted surface disturbance is 9.5 acres. Existing <br /> facilities consist of a portal bench and coal handling/stockpile area; an access/haul road approximately %: <br /> mile in length leading from State Highway 139 up to the portal area;an office trailer,bathhouse and parking <br /> area on the East Salt Creek valley floor; and topsoil and construction material stockpiles, a supply storage <br /> area and sediment pond mid-way between the office area and the portal bench area. The two-level portal <br /> bench area includes a mine conveyor to a portal-mouth screen and crusher,which feeds product coal onto a <br /> stacker conveyor. Coal is stockpiled on the lower level bench and loaded into trucks for transport to market. <br /> Facilities on the upper level mine bench include four portal entries, including the fan portal and conveyor <br /> portal,water and fuel tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, ventilation fan, and rock <br /> dust bin. Disturbed areas include ditches and culverts for drainage and sediment control. A sediment <br /> cleanout stockpile is located adjacent to the sediment pond, and several small temporary coal waste storage <br /> piles are approved in the vicinity of the product coal stockpile. Material from these temporary stockpiles is <br /> periodically hauled to an approved permanent coal waste disposal site in the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine <br /> permit area. All approved surface disturbance has previously occurred,as of December 2004. <br /> Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Prior to 1991, 526,666 tons of coal were <br /> produced at the mine. 193,954 tons were produced in 1991, and 7,913 tons were produced in 1992. No <br /> coal was produced in 1993 through 1996. 49,115 tons were produced in 1997. The operation was idle <br /> during 1998 and most of 1999. The mine was re-activated in the 0 quarter of 1999, and coal production <br /> was re-initiated in February 2000. Coal production in calendar 2000 was 305,332 tons, with annual <br /> production of 323,011 tons in 2001, 327,199 tons in 2002, and 274,354 tons in 2003. Maximum <br /> projected annual coal production is 600,000 tons, with a projected annual production of 300,000 tons per <br /> year through 2008. <br /> Coal is mined at the exposed face by a continuous miner. The mined coal is then shuttled to a conveyor <br /> which transports the coal to the surface. The coal is then crushed, stockpiled, and loaded into highway <br /> trucks for delivery. <br /> When mining ceases,the portals will be sealed and backfilled. The sediment pond, haul road sections and <br /> office area will be graded to approximate original contour(AOC), and drainages will be reestablished. The <br /> operator was granted a variance from AOC for the mine bench area,to allow for backfilled slopes of lesser <br /> gradient than existed prior to mining. The backfilled slopes will be stable and will support the approved <br /> postmining land use. The mine highwall will be completely backfilled, with the natural sandstone outcrop <br /> that forms a near vertical face above the portals to remain undisturbed. Topsoil or other suitable plant <br /> growth material will be spread on graded areas, and the site will be seeded and mulched to establish <br /> vegetative cover of a variety consistent with surrounding naturally occurring vegetation. <br /> 8 <br />