Laserfiche WebLink
The application is in compliance with this Rule. The Operator makes no presentation and the <br />Division does not consider the prerequisites for exception. However, I think that these <br />requirements may not need to be met, as an undisturbed coal corridor at depths of open strip- <br />mined areas hardly seems, to me, to be providing access. I believe the Division should waive the <br />requirement to leave areas of undisturbed coal. <br />Undisturbed areas of coal shall be left in unmined sections which: <br />Rule 4.23.2(I)(a) Are a minimum of 250 feet wide at any point between each group of auger <br />openings to the full depth of the auger hole; <br />The application is in compliance with this rule (see page 12-4-1). <br />Rule 4.23.2(1)(b) Are no more than 2, 500 feet apart, measured from the center of one section to <br />the center of the next section, unless a greater distance is set forth in the permit application <br />under 2.06.9 and approved by the Division; and <br />The text of the application is in compliance with this rule (see page 12-4-1) but the mine plan is <br />not in compliance (see Drawing 12-3). The distance from the center of the north two pillars of <br />the Wadge Seam (at the highwall) is 2,950 feet, and between the south two pillars 3,400 feet. No <br />pillars are depicted on Drawing 12-3 for barrier pillars in the Wolf Creek Seam. I am not sure <br />where the Sage coal seam fits in. If the Division determines that areas of undisturbed coal are <br />required, recommend the following adequacy comment: "Although the text of page 12-4-1 is in <br />compliance with the rules, please revise Drawing 12-3 to indicate 2,500 feet center-to-center <br />spacing (at the face of the highwall) of the blocks of undisturbed coal Rule 4.23.2(1)(b)]" <br />Rule 4.23.2(I)(c) For multiple seam mining, shall have a width of at least 250 feet plus 50 feet <br />for each subjacent workable coal seam. The centers of all unmined sections shall be aligned <br />vertically. <br />Drawing 12-3 indicates that highwall mining is proposed for approximately 600 feet in the <br />Wadge and Wolf Creek coal seams, but the "highwall mining limit: is shown as 1000 feet. <br />During the telephone conversation with Shevling (September 30, 2003), Shevling indicated that <br />the current equipment planned to be used will only penetrate approximately 600 feet, but they <br />would like to go 1,000 feet if possible at the time of mining. If so, the Wolf Creek highwall <br />mining would extend under the Wadge highwall mining, and the requirements of this rule are <br />not met by the application. In addition, any superimposed multi-seam mining would require <br />wider undisturbed blocks in sub-adjacent seams. If the Division determines that areas of <br />undisturbed coal are required, recommend the following adequacy comment: "Please revise the <br />text on page 12-4-1 of the application to address superimposed high-wall mining of the <br />seams [Wolf Creek underneath the Sage, and the Sage in turn under the Wadge (see limits <br />of highwall mining on Drawing 12-3)], to widening the areas of undisturbed coal in the <br />Sage coal seam to 300 feet, and the areas of undisturbed Wolf Creek to 350 feet, as may <br />