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• In order to help visualize how a longwall panel operates, a longwall panel is presented in Figure 47, Typical Longwall <br />Panel. <br />The current five year permit term concluded in 1998 with mining completed in 3rd East panel and development <br />mining in the 4~ East panel of the No. 6 mine (Map 24). Mining, as described, will continue for the life of the mine <br />in the "E" coal seam of the No. 6 mine. Details of the life-of--mine sequencing is shown graphically on the Life-of- <br />Mine Plan Map (Map 22). <br />Room and Pillar Mining <br />Due to uncertainties concerning marketing, economics, and availability of the longwall system, RAG EC reserves the <br />right to reemploy room and pillar mining at any given time and any given location of the No. 5 and the No. 6 mines. <br />Presented below is a general discussion of the mining methods and equipment utilized in standard room and pillar <br />mining. <br />The room and pillar mining method employed by RAG EC develops mains and submains on advance, and large areas <br />or panels are developed for pillaring. A list of the major equipment utilized in room and pillar mining is presented in <br />Table 54, Room and Pillar Equipment List. <br />Each coal seam has been engineered for extraction by developing an entry, with the height and width based upon the <br />immediate strength characteristics of the roof, Floor, and coal. The pillars are then designed to accommodate the <br />readjusted load of the overburden strata. Certain areas are designed for full extraction of the pillars where the roof is <br />allowed to cave behind the pillared areas. <br />• RAG EC has maximized resource recovery by adopting a maximum recovery rate compatible to the anticipated stress <br />loads in accordance with pmdent mining practices. <br />A continuous miner and shuttle car system is used to cut and haul the coal to the belt conveyor systems. In <br />conjunction with the standard room and pillar mining system, RAG EC uses a pillar extraction system to optimize <br />resource recovery. During the many years of its operation, RAG EC has employed the use of several room and pillar <br />mining plans. RAG EC has used a three entry, four entry, and five entry system. To give a better understanding of <br />how these entry systems work, RAG EC has included within this permit several figures to explain the function of <br />room and pillar mining. These figures are the following: <br />• Figure 48, Typical Three Entry System <br />• Figure 49, Typical Four Entry System <br />• Figure 50, Typical Five Entry System <br />• Figure 51, Typical Room and Pillar Mining Section <br />• Figure 52, Typical Partial Pillaring Plan <br />Contingent on mining conditions, the room and pillar method may follow the general patterns shown on these figures. <br />RAG EC will use the previously mentioned major equipment in its extraction of coal, whether it is a three entry, four <br />entry, or five entry room and pillar section. This equipment is coordinated at the face to develop the number of <br />entries necessary for the specific development or mining according to several parameters determined as mining <br />occurs. These parameters include coal seam height, consistency, fault location, type of panels being driven, water <br />conditions, and overlying surface structures. <br />• Room widths are generally 20 feet, but may vary depending on roof and floor conditions. Pillar size, length of rooms, <br />coal for roof support, room widths, and angles of cross cuts may vary according [o the approved MSHA plan. The <br />anticipated sizes are determined and set forth in this section. <br />MidTerrn Response <br />2.05-5 <br />-~~~~~ i~iAR 1 ~ luCc <br />`'3" s 6"~' Revised 12/05/01 <br />-c(~33 <br />