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V. Sealing of Drilled Holes and Underground Openings <br />1. The Division will require that each hole, well or other underground opening be <br />capped, sealed, backfilled, or otherwise properly managed (4.07.3). MCC has <br />committed to do this in section 2.05.4 of the permit. <br />VI. Use of Explosives <br />Mining techniques used at the West Elk Mine do not require blasting as part of <br />the regular extraction cycle. Occasionally, explosives are used for underground <br />construction purposes. These uses only require small quantities of explosives. <br />MCC's Explosives Handling and Blasting Procedures is presented in Exhibit 41 <br />of the permit document. Map 53 shows the location of the powder magazine. <br />Limited application of explosives may be necessary for additional future surface <br />construction. Pursuant [o Rule 4.08.1(2), blasts that use more than five pounds <br />of explosives or a blasting agent will be conducted according to the blasting <br />schedule required by 4.08.3. As appropriate, apre-blasting survey will be <br />performed (4.08.2). <br />VII. Disposal of Excess Spoil <br />The West Elk Mine will not require a disposal area for excess spoil (4.09). <br />VIII. Coal Mine Waste Banks <br />The West Elk Mine is currently approved to have three refuse disposal areas -the <br />Upper and Lower Refuse Disposal Areas and the Refuse Pile Expansion area. The <br />upper pile has not been constructed and construction is not planned for this permit <br />term. MCC has postponed its construction indefinitely, and must address several <br />stipulations before construction can begin. The upper pile will not be covered in this <br />document; however, specific information is contained within Exhibit 50 of the permit <br />document. The lower pile is currently in use and specifics regarding the design are <br />located in Exhibit 51 of the permit document.The RPE is also in use and specifics <br />regarding the design are located in Exhibit 70 of the permit. <br />The lower waste pile is located adjacent to Highway 133, at the west side of the mouth <br />of Sylvester Gulch. MCC initially proposed the disposal of waste rock within two <br />waste piles in the original permit application. One pile, the "initial waste rock pile," <br />would contain approximately 1.25 million cubic yards and would be located on the <br />lower facilities bench (the current location of the underground shop). Subsequent to <br />permit approval, this initial waste rock pile was deleted from MCC's permit. The <br />second waste pile, the "upper waste pile," would be significantly larger and be located <br />on the bench above the portal area, and as previously mentioned will not be <br />constructed during this permit term. <br />47 <br />