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Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The McClave Canyon Mine is an underground coal mining operation. The permit area encompasses <br />2,560.5 acres, of which approximately 972 acres are projected to be affected by mining, under the mining <br />plan, as updated in RN-06. Approximately 334 acres had been affected by underground workings as of <br />June 2006. Permitted surface disturbance is 11.1 acres. Existing facilities consist of a portal bench and <br />coal handling/stockpile area; an access/haul road approximately % mile in length leading from State <br />Highway 139 up to the portal area; an office trailer, bathhouse and parking area on the East Salt Creek <br />valley floor; and topsoil and construction material stockpiles, a supply storage area and sediment pond mid- <br />way between the office area and the portal bench area. The two-level portal bench area includes a mine <br />conveyor to a portal- mouth screen and crusher, which feeds product coal onto a stacker conveyor. Coal is <br />stockpiled on the lower level bench and loaded into trucks for transport to market. Facilities on the upper <br />level mine bench include four portal entries, including the fan portal and conveyor portal, water and fuel <br />tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, ventilation fan, and rock dust bin. Disturbed <br />areas include ditches and culverts for drainage and sediment control. A sediment cleanout stockpile is <br />located adjacent to the sediment pond, and several small temporary coal waste storage piles are approved in <br />the vicinity of the product coal stockpile. Material from these temporary stockpiles is periodically hauled to <br />an approved permanent coal waste disposal site in the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine permit area. All <br />approved surface disturbance has previously occurced, as of December 2006. The disturbed acreage <br />includes a reclaimed emergency drill pad site and associated light use road that was constructed on the <br />North Fork of Munger Creek in December 2005, and reclaimed in the winter and spring of 2006. <br />Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Prior to 1991, a total of 526,666 tons of <br />coal had been produced at the mine. 193,954 tons were produced in 1991, and 7,913 tons were produced <br />in 1992. No coal was produced in 1993 through 1996. 49,115 tons were produced in 1997. The <br />operation was idle during 1998 and most of 1999. The mine was re-activated in the 4`" quarter of 1999, <br />and coal production was re-initiated in February 2000. Coal production in calendar 2000 was 305,332 <br />tons, with annual production ranging between 260,000 tons and 327,000 tons in subsequent years through <br />2005. Maximum projected annual coal production is 500,000 tons, with a projected annual production of <br />300,000 to 500,000 tons. <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 vaziety consistent with surrounding naturally occurcing vegetation. <br />8 <br />