REV103526 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

i Most of the area to be blasted in 1987 will occur within a horizontal dis- tance of 500 fee[ from the underground workings of Empire Energy Corpora- tions, Eagle No. 5 mine. Map PR 1-1 shows the area to be blasted and Empire's underground workings that lie within the 500 foot horizontal dis- tance of [he blasting area. The underground workings shown are mostly aban- doned roan and pillar areas for which an estimated SSX extraction was accom- plished. No currently active headings fall within 500 horizontal feet of the planned blasting area. Trapper is requesting a variance from the 500 horizontal feet limit for sur- face coal mining over an active or abandoned underground mine. The safely of the underground workings will no[ be canpromised as more than 800 vertical feet separate the bottom of the lowest mineable seam of Colt Pit from the highest mineable seam of Empire's underground workings. To further insure safety of ESnpire's underground workers, blasting within 500 foot of the underground workings will be done during Empire's shift changes when none of their workers are in the area. To insure [he safety of Empire's activities, Trapper mine will use a controlled blasting schedule which will be coordi- nated with Empire Energy Corporation. By allowing Trapper to blast and subsequently surface mine this area, an improved resource recovery may be obtained from State Coal Lease 463-13, Federal Coal Lease C-25948 and County Coal Lease 117764. The area Chat lies within 500 feet, horizontally, of the underground workings encompasses approximtely 75 acres. An estimated 930,000 tons of surface coal is recov- erable. This tonnage may be lost if nut removed prior to Empire's long wall mining underneath the surface mineable coal seams. No surface water should enter the underground workings from the surface dis- turbance and blasting. The 800 feet vertical separation between [he ax~rkings will prevent this. Additionally, no effect is foreseen on the Twenty Mile sandstone aquifer as it lies more than 200 feet below the lowest mineable surface coal. The strata separating the R coal seam (lowest coal seam io be mined) and the twenty mile sandstone, consists of materials of such low per- meability ChaC water movement would be significantly retarded. Further sup- port concerning a negative impact on the twenty mile sandstone is supported by the Empire Energy permit concerning subsidence and the twenty mile sand- stone during long wall mining operations. 2.3 Drainage and Sediment Control Plan The drainage and sediment control plan is shown on Map M51. As illustrated, [he majority of the runoff will be routed through the Buzzard Gulch sedimen- tation structures and the abandoned Empire Energy pit. The Small Gulch sedi- mentation pond will also be used. Section 4.8 and Appendix 0 of Trapper's Mining and Reclamation Permit illustrate the design capacity of these struc- tures. Adequate storage is available in these structures fur 1987 activities. During the past years of inactivity, Col[ pit has filled with water at the northern most portion. Reg inning in Che fall of 1987, Col[ Pit will be pumped dry. The water will be discharged in Cu yote Diversion No. 1 and cunt.