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XV. Operations Description- Rules 2.05.2, 2.05.3(2) and 4,01. <br />Information pertaining to the operations plan of the Seneca II Mine is <br />presented in Volume II, Tab 12 of the permit renewal application. <br />Seneca II Mine is an area surface mining operation utilizing two draglines for <br />overburden removal purposes. Overburden depths range from 15 feet to 140 <br />feet, the maximum economic recovery depth. Coal outcrops at the top of the <br />slope and dips at approximately 18-25%. The two predominant seams mined are <br />the Wolf Creek and Wadge to depths of approximately 140 and 100 feet, <br />respectively. Mining of the Wolf Creek seam is being accomplished in the <br />northern portion of the permit area and will continue until mine closure in <br />approximately 1997. Wadge seam mining is being done southeast of the Wolf <br />Creek area in two areas: West Wadge Pit and East Wadge Pit. Excavation has <br />been completed and final coal removal is being accomplished in the West Wadge <br />Pit; whereas, active mining of the East Wadge Pit will continue until about <br />1991. Discussions pertaining to mining activities may be found in Tab 12, <br />Volume VI and depicted on Exhibit 12-1. <br />Peabody Coal Company also proposes to auger mine in Area E (Appendix 12-3 and <br />Exhibit 12-1). Auger mining occurred intermittently in this area from 1983-85 <br />with anticipated future activities to occur in 1987. Auger mining will <br />extract both the Wadge and Lennox coal seams. <br />Peabody Coal Company has requested a variance from Rule 4.23.2(1)(a) and (b) <br />which requires that undisturbed areas of unaugered coal at least 250 feet wide <br />be spaced no less than 2,500 feet apart, as measured from the center of one <br />section to the center of the next section. Peabody Coal Company has not <br />provided a sufficient demonstration that the variance is warranted. <br />Therefore, the Division denies the request fora variance from Rule <br />4.23.2(1)(a) and (b) until a complete demonstration can be made by Peabody <br />Coal Company. <br />Total anticipated coal production during this permit term (1987-91) is <br />6,453,000 tons with total anticipated production for the remaining <br />life-of-mine (1987-97) of 9,121,000 tons. <br />Topsoil removal activities occur in advance of mining with the majority of <br />this material direct hauled to final regraded areas. Advance topsoil removal <br />is typically completed by December and resumes in May of any given year to <br />allow for continual overburden and coal removal operations during the winter <br />and wet spring months. <br />Swell factor computations have been performed for the Seneca II Mine. The <br />computed swell factor for the Wadge area is 15.3%; whereas, the calculated <br />swell factor for the Wolf Creek area is 19.8%. Based on these anticipated <br />swell factors, it was determined that some excess spoil material will occur in <br />the west side of the Wolf Creek area. Provisions to handle this excess <br />material include construction of a rock underdrain and dragline placement of <br />spoils into the drainage, as addressed and approved in the Wolf Creek Permit <br />Revision (September 25, 1984). <br />-36- <br />