Laserfiche WebLink
(~ WactPWatPr Treatment Plant -The West Elk Mine has apackage-type wastewater treatment plant to <br />treat sewage from the mine's facilities. The plant has a capacity of 10,000 gallons per day. With an <br />aeration basin and clarifier, the plant provides primary and secondary treatment. The wastewater <br />treatment plant is operated under applicable state laws that govern wastewater treatment facilities, <br />administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment. <br />In 1996, Mountain Coal Company expanded the plant to increase the throughput to 20,000 gpd. <br />The expansion included a 3,000 gallon flow equalization tank, an additional clarifier and a <br />flocculent system. The clarifier is added to provide additional retention and clarification as a <br />passive safeguard to plant operation. The flocculent system will be used as a secondary safeguard <br />that may be operated to enhance solids settling in the primary clarifier. <br />One of the major components of the mine ventilation program is'the Sylvester Gulch Fan. This <br />facility is located in Sylvester Gulch approximately one-half mile south of the mine facilities azea. <br />Information concerning the design and operation of the fan is contained in Exhibit 42. <br />The Lone Pine Gulch Portals were situated approximately one (1) mile west of Somerset, Colorado, <br />at an elevation of approximately 6,480 feet. The Lone Pine Fan Facility was constructed in 1995, <br />accessing the B-Seam, to serve the West Elk Mine as the primary ventilation facility for the then <br />~~ completed Northwest Longwall Panels (Nos. 1-7); the Jumbo Mountain Longwall Panels (Nos. 8 <br />and 9), and the Southern Longwall Panels (Nos. I2, 13, 13A). These 12 longwall panels were <br />isolated underground from the active workings, using explosion resistant seals, and the entire area <br />is now abandoned. Watertight bulkheads were installed in each of the portals in 2001. The <br />designs, portal profiles, and plan view of the bulkheads are shown on Drawing Nos. 42A-1, 42A-2, <br />42A-3 included in Exhibit 42A, in Volume 7 of the Pemut Document. The area was reclaimed in <br />2002 and 2003. <br />In order to ensure adequate mine ventilation for West Elk Mine's current and future mining areas, <br />new ventilation shafts (intake and exhaust shafts) aze required. Coristruction of the site for the lazge <br />intake shaft and the large return shaft began during the Spring of 1997 and shag sinking began in <br />the fall of 1997. The ventilation facility is located approximately one half mile from the existing <br />Sylvester Gulch Fan (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction and operation of <br />the ventilation facility aze contained in Exhibit 69. <br />A third ventilation shaft (Vent Shaft #3) was constructed during the summer of 1997. Vent Shaft #3 <br />is a 10-foot finished diameter shaft located approximately 400 feet east of the electric borehole site <br />(Map 53B). Information regazding the design, construction, and operation of the ventilation facility <br />aze contained in Exhibit 69. <br />I~ <br />1.05-71 Nmember 7004 PR11 <br />