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longwall district comprised of five longwall panels (LW-1 to LW-5) was completed in 1993. The district <br />was subsequently sealed underground. <br />Two production crews utilizing two continuous miners can provide the necessary development of future <br />longwall panels and mains. One production crews is required for the longwall. Other crews are <br />required for maintenance and support work. <br />Longwall panels LW-6 through LW-9 were mined during 1993-1996. The LW-9 panel was only <br />partially mined when the mine caught on fire on January 31, 1996. The whole district was eventually <br />sealed on February 14, 1996 because the fire could not be controlled. Thus, the remaining LW-9 <br />panel and other panels planned for mining, behind the seals, were abandoned. Anew D-Seam mine <br />plan with a revised mining sequence was prepared. Under this plan, in 1996, South Mains Right was <br />further developed to provide access for room-and-pillar panel RP-1, all longwall gateroads were <br />developed and mining of RP-1 and RP-2 occurred. In 1997, RP-1 and RP-2 were mined out and <br />mining of LW-10 resumed. In 1998, LW-10 as well as LW-11 were mined out and mining of LW-12 <br />began. In 1999, LW-12 will be mined out. Mining of D-Seam will be completed with the completion of <br />LW-12 mining. <br />All the water produced outby the sealed area, from mining as well as natural ground water will be <br />pumped into the sealed Longwall District #1 via the 6th East seal. The volume capacity of this area is <br />140 million gallons. Based on maximum water production rate of 45 GPM, it would take 7-1/2 years to <br />fill. There are 3-112 to 4 years of "D" seam recoverable reserves left in the revised mine plan. <br />Therefore, no surface discharge of this water is likely to be required. All ground water produced inby <br />the sealed area will be contained in Longwall District #2 and will not be discharged to the surface. <br />There will be no effects to existing ground water due to storage in these areas. <br />Since the D-Seam will be mined out by August 1999, the B-Seam development began in 1997. <br />III.A.4 Mining Eguivment Because a mixed mining method is planned for the Deserado Mine, iwo <br />different equipment systems are required, one set for longwall mining and several sets for room and <br />pillar mining. <br />The longwall equipment consists of a shearer to cut the coal and an armored conveyor to transport the <br />coal to a stage loader which loads the coal onto the longwall panel conveyor. Shield-type supports are <br />used to provide roof support in the immediate face areas. <br />• Permit Renewal #3 (Rev, 8199) III-7 <br />