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l L <br /> been mined, and further B Seam and E Seam are planned to be mined, in Lease C-1362. <br /> Mountain Coal Company believes the E Seam can be mined without precluding mining of the <br /> B Seam. This conclusion is based on experience gained by the Mountain Coal Company <br /> since opening the West Elk Mine, recent geotechnical analyses, and advances in mining <br /> technology. <br /> Mountain Coal Company mined in the F Seam from 1982 to 1991 from Lease D-004569 and <br /> C-0117192. This mining was only marginally successful. Poor mine roof conditions, <br /> sandstone channels, low coal areas, poor coal quality areas, and other unfavorable conditions <br /> have negatively affected miming and rendered this seam uneconomic under past and present <br /> market conditions. <br /> Approximately 180 feet below the F Seam horizon lies the E Seam. Mining plans in the <br /> E-Seam are presented on Map 51. The E Seam in the west panels of the Apache Rocks <br /> Permit Revision area is planned to be mined prior to the B Seam panels beneath. <br /> Approximately 400 feet below the F Seam and 200 feet below the E Seam lies the B coal <br /> seam. The minable B Seam contains some areas of coal, particularly in Federal Leases <br /> C-0117192, COC-54558, and COC-56447, where no minable E Seam exists above the <br /> B Seam. Also, in a portion of C-0117192, the F Seam is mined out. In these areas, there is <br /> B Seam minable reserves which, when mined, will not significantly affect the minability of <br /> the other seams. <br /> In April 1989, an application for a technical revision for an incidental boundary change to <br /> add 35.5 acres to the permit area was submitted. The revision was for access and associated <br /> activities by way of slopes and a ventilation shaft from inside the existing F Seam workings <br /> to the B Seam. The revision also included mining in the B Seam by room and pillar, as well <br /> as longwall mining methods. The 35.5-acre incidental boundary change was necessary to <br /> accommodate the B Seam main access entries. The Division subsequently issued a proposed <br /> decision to approve the revision on July 12, 1989. <br /> In 1990, the West Elk Mine began preparations to produce coal from the B Seam. Initially, <br /> room-and-pillar mining using a continuous miner was utilized to develop panels in the <br /> B Seam, for later removal using longwall methods. The B Seam will be mined using <br /> longwall methods during this permit term. Mining in the F Seam has been discontinued, <br /> until market conditions improve so that this seam can be economically mined. <br /> No major buildings, major structures, occupied dwellings, cemeteries, parks, railroads or <br /> highways overlay the coal to be mined. Two reservoirs lie close to the F Seam outcrop; <br /> however, neither is directly over the coal to be mined. <br /> Ventilation in the mine is provided by two fans. One is located in Sylvester Gulch and the <br /> other in Lone Pine Gulch. Power to the mine is supplied via existing lines of the Delta- <br /> Montrose Electric Association. At substations located in the main mine facilities area and in <br /> Lone Pine Gulch, the power is stepped down to serve the underground mine and to serve the <br /> surface facilities. <br /> 13 <br />