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Because longwall mining usually extracts the entire seam height in a solid block of coal, coal reserve <br />extraction is usually extremely high. Extraction as high as 90 percent has been achieved with longwall <br />mining methods, and 70-80 percent recovery is average. <br />The average production from longwall faces is about 5,000 tons per shift. However, many new faces <br />including the face started by BME have exceeded 7,000 tons without difficulty and new equipment and <br />technology promises to raise future production even higher. Because longwall mining is believed to be <br />the only true continuous mining system the tonnage mined by this method is expected to climb during <br />the coming years. The Deserado Mine has the reserves and the coal blocks suitable for this high <br />recovery, high production technology. <br />Longwall mining has a better safety record than continuous mining. The danger of roof falls has been <br />removed. The roof supports are set in a straight line on the face with skin to skin contact. The safest <br />place in the mine is directly under the steel canopies of the self-advancing supports. <br />Longwall mining has two major disadvantages. The initial capital investment is extremely high and the <br />system is totally interdependent. In longwall mining there are no alternatives, no spare sections, no <br />spare equipment. If any one element shuts down the entire system is down. <br />BME has designed its mining plan to permit the highest resource recovery in the most cost effective <br />and safe manner. <br />Longwall panels are planned within the permit boundary wherever it is geologically possible. All other <br />areas will be mined by the more flexible room and pillar mining when economically feasible. <br />There are three factors within the Deserado Mine permit area which prohibits the use of longwall <br />mining: <br />1) Areas where the seam height is less than 7 feet <br />2) Areas where the overburden is less than 150 feet <br />3) Areas where the panel boundary geometry does not allow large blocks of coal for longwall <br />mining. <br />Permit Renewal #3 (Rev, 8199) III-5 <br />