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• SECTION 2.05.3 <br />OPERATION PLAN: PERMIT AREA <br />Introduction <br />This section describes the mining plan which is to be used from 1999-2010. The mining methods, <br />including overburden and coal removal, coal supply agreement, and mining equipment are described. <br />Mining Methods and Equipment <br />Mining at New Horizon 2 will follow the pattern shown in Map 2.05.3-1. No overburden removal or coal <br />mining will take place at the New Horizon 1 area; however, reclamation will continue to be carried out <br />at New Horizon 1. <br />Mining activities began in early 1993. Excavation was performed by dozers, trucks and one shovel. <br />This same mining method and equipment selection will continue to be used. The anticipated mining <br />schedule for each area where mining will occur is graphically shown on Map 2.05.3-1. Overburden <br />will be removed by a shovel and truck fleet and/or dozers after an area has been drilled and shot. <br />The primary coal seam to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; however, the Upper Dakota seam <br />will be recovered if it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. Maximum overburden depth will <br />approach 110 feet. Mining cuts will have a generally north-south orientation and will progress <br />westward except for the area north of BB Road and west of 2700 Road, which will have an east-west <br />orientation. <br />Mining was begun along the eastern subcrop of the New Horizon 2 area and a panel mining method <br />was used to develop the pits (see Map 2.05.3-1}. The panels will vary in length and width according <br />to conditions. Panel lengths will approach 2400 feet long and panel width will vary from 120-260 feet. <br />Mining will generally progress east to west with the long axis of the pits generally north to south. The <br />overburden will be excavated using dozers and a shovel and truck fleet. The overburden will be placed <br />or pushed into an adjacent or nearby mined out pit panel except the initial cut which will be placed <br />adjacent to the pit onto land designated as a temporary overburden stockpile (see Map 2.05.3-1). <br />Topsoil stockpiles are also shown on this map. <br />During overburden removal operations, some selective handling of material will be performed based <br />on chemical and physical core data contained in Secticn 2.04.6, Geology Description, and discussions <br />presented in Section 2.05.4(2)(4), Topsoil (Redistribution). <br />(REVISED 9/99) 2.05.3 - 1 <br />