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Mountain Coal Company Exhibit 69 <br />West Elk Mine Sylvester Gulch Facilities <br />Introduction <br />Mountain Coal Company (MCC) proposes to construct new ventilation facilities, mine <br />access facilities, a new electrical substation, a degasification hole, associated roads, <br />power lines and support facilities within Sylvester Gulch. These facilities will provide <br />the increased power, access, and ventilation requirements necessary to sustain <br />underground mining operations at the West Elk Mine in a safe and efficient manner. <br />These surface facilities, and all underground mining areas serviced by the facilities are <br />within the current permit boundary of MCC's Colorado Division of Minerals and <br />Geology (CDMG) Mining and Reclamation Permit No. C-80-007. <br />Surface land ownership for the locations of surface facilities consists of approximately <br />940 acres of land owned by Mountain Coal Company (of which approximately 300 acres <br />of land was previously owned and administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)). No <br />other land owners are involved. A land exchange between MCC and the USFS, <br />transferring ownership of these 300 acres, plus additional acreage, from the USFS to <br />MCC was formally completed on April 29, 1997. <br />MCC is currently considering locating additional facilities in Sylvester Gulch in the next <br />five years. These facilities may include a bathhouse, shop, warehouse, coal handling and <br />storage facilities, portals and slope access to the B and E Seams, and other potential <br />facilities. The plans for these facilities are very preliminary and do not impact or control <br />the following described facilities. These facilities are required for immediate ventilation <br />needs in the mine regardless of whether or not future facilities are constructed. <br />Ventilation Facility (Shafts #1 and #2) <br />Permanent surface facilities for the intake air shaft include: an earthen bench, an <br />approximately 43 foot by 40 foot by 4 foot thick concrete shaft collar (34 foot inside <br />diameter shaft hole), an elevator system and emergency hoist, a small air compressor, a <br />building to house the elevator, compressor, bulk rock dust storage and supply facilities, <br />emergency hoist and a small parking area for vehicles. Permanent surface facilities for <br />the exhaust shaft include: an earthen bench, an approximately 34 foot by 42 foot by 4 foot <br />thick concrete shaft collar (28 foot inside diameter shaft hole), dual main mine fans with <br />motor houses, concrete foundations, steel fan ducting, a standby generator for the fans, <br />and a small parking area for vehicles. To minimize earthwork quantities and to utilize <br />existing topography, the intake shaft bench will be established at 6875 feet in elevation <br />and the exhaust shaft bench will be established at 6910 feet in elevation. The shafts will <br />be spaced approximately 310 feet apart. Both shafts will be approximately 700 feet deep <br />and will be lined with concrete from the shaft collar to the bottom of each shaft. A power <br />distribution center with switch gear located on the exhaust shaft bench will provide power <br />to the fans and hoisting facility via underground (buried) raceways. <br />Nov. /99h PR07R; Revived Ma}' 1997 iNR216 <br />Reoixed Jul. 1997 MR219; Revived June 1003 MR297 <br />