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Mining panels will be developed blocks of coal which can be mined by <br />` room and pillar techniques utilizing continuous equipment. The panels <br />are located adjacent to the main entries and oriented approximately <br />perpendicular or parallel to the mine property boundaries. Before <br />mining can begin, the mining panel must be completely developed on each <br />side by panel and bleeder entries. <br />The projected dimensions of the mining panels will vary. Economic and <br />physical considerations have determined the orientation of the proposed <br />panels. All mining panels will be recovered in a retreating fashion <br />once they are developed. Panels will be mined in sequence as designated <br />on the Mine Plan Map (Map 11). <br />Barrier pillars are blocks of coal which are deliberately not extracted <br />during the mining process in order to provide protection or support to <br />the mine entries or reserves. The mine plan includes several barrier <br />pillar types. They are as follows: <br />Main Entry Barrier Pillars. These main barrier pillars will be located <br />on each side of the main entries to provide the necessary support to <br />keep the main entries open for the life of the operation. <br />Fire Protection Pillars. Afire protection pillar will be left as shown <br />on the Mine Plan Map (Map 11), to provide support to recover the panel <br />pillars and to act as a partition in separating mine panels. This <br />partition will act to prevent containment of intake air and will also <br />serve as a firewall in case a panel were to catch fire. <br />The drift portals of the Coal Gulch Mine will be located at the outcrop <br />of the "A" Coal Seam. These portals will have an equipment roadway, an <br />intake entry, a belt entry, and a return entry. During the continued <br />development of the operation, the return entries will host an operating <br />fan for mine ventilation. <br />• <br />2.05-5 <br />