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half of the coal seam to a depth of 150-200 feet. (k~ce the top <br />half of the seam has been augered the auger is dropped down and the <br />bits bore into the lower half of the coal seam and penetrate to the <br />same depth as above. The boring process transports the coal to the <br />face of the seam where it is picked up and transferred by a conveyor <br />to a stockpile. The auger has a 27" twin bit and therefore the <br />completed bore is 54" x 54". <br />After the augering is ccaq~leted the backfilling operation <br />of the cut can begin. The augering delays backfilling by approximately <br />two weeks. The backfilling process inwlves transporting overburden <br />from the developing cut into the worked out cut. The overburden <br />is end dumped into the cut by use of a ramp and this process is <br />continued until the cut is cczipletely backfilled. The dozers then <br />• work the surface so that it blends in with the surrounding topography. <br />This process also leaves the surface in a roughened condition for <br />the application of topsoil. <br />A minor modification of this basic plan will occur in <br />Section 15 when the eastern "]mob" is mined. The overburden and <br />opal will be removed following the same technique as detailed above. <br />However, part of the overburden material will be placed in the <br />drainage directly west of the knob. Zhis will result in the area <br />being a little flatter than the original topography but more <br />beneficial to the post mining land use. The vegetation and topsoil <br />will be removed from this area prior to placettent of the fill <br />material. <br />The only blasting that is required at the Trinidad Basin <br />• Mine is for the fracturing of the onq~etent sandstone strata that <br />V-15 <br />