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DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION AND RECLAMATION PLANS <br />The McClane Canyon Mine is an underground coal mining operation. The permit area <br />encompasses 2,560 acres, of which 2,189.7 will be affected by mining. To date, an area of <br />approximately 138 acres has been affected by underground workings. Permitted surface <br />disturbance is 9.5 acres. Existing facilities consist of a portal bench and faceup area, where a <br />crusher and gantry, water and fuel tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, <br />ventilation fan, and rock dust bin are located. Other surface disturbances include an access road, <br />topsoil and rip-rap stockpiles, a parking area, office and bathhouse, water tanks, and <br />sedimentation pond. Disturbed areas include ditches and culverts for sediment control. The only <br />approved surface disturbances which have not occurred to date are an alignment change on a <br />short section of the mine entrance access road to straighten the intersection with State Highway <br />139, and construction of a 700 foot section of haul road connecting the McClane lower facilities <br />area to the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine permit area. <br />Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Prior to 1991, 526,666 tons of <br />coal were produced at the mine. 193,954 tons were produced in 1991, and 7,913 tons were ~ ~;^'1,~~ <br />produced in 1992. No coal was produced in 1993 through 1996. The operation was placed in ~.;.- ~ <br />temporary cessation in July, 1996. Anticipated production for this permit term is approximately I (~,^~ ~t' <br />200,000 tons per year. <br />Coal is mined at the exposed face by a continuous miner. The mined coal is then shuttled to a <br />conveyor which transports the coal to the surface. The coal is then crushed, stockpiled, and <br />loaded into highway trucks for delivery. <br />When mining ceases, the portals will be sealed and backfilled. The sediment pond, haul road <br />sections and office area will be graded to approximate original contour (AOC), and drainages <br />will be reestablished. A steep slope variance from AOC has been approved for the mine bench <br />area, and backfilled slopes in that area will be less steep than existed prior to mining. Topsoil <br />or other suitable plant growth material will be spread on graded areas, and the site will be seeded <br />and mulched to establish vegetative cover of a variety consistent with surrounding naturally <br />occurring vegetation. <br />8 <br />