Laserfiche WebLink
Descri? Linn of the (7neratinn and Reclamation Planc <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; anaccess/haul road approximately %z <br />mile in lerrgth leading from State Highway 139 up to the portal azea; an office trailer, bathhouse and pazking <br />azea on the East Salt Creek valley floor; and topsoil and construction material stockpiles, a supply storage <br />azea 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 aze approved in the vicinity of the product coal stockpile. Material from these temporary stockpiles is <br />periodically hauled to an approved pennanent coal waste disposal site in the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine <br />permit azea. All approved surface disturbance has previously occurred, as of December 2004. <br />Coal is mined underground using room and pillaz 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 4~ quarter of 1999, and coal production <br />was re-initiated in February 2000. Coal production in calendaz 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 />yeaz 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 azea 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 azea, 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 neaz 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 />