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West Elk Mrne <br />. Operation Description <br />The primazy mine facilities and portals were developed in Section 16, T135, R90W in 1981 and <br />1982 to support continuous miner room and pillar mining in the F Seam. West Elk Mine was <br />developed using continuous miners in a series of main entries, submain entries, and gate entry <br />development. In 1990, slopes were driven from the existing F Seam main entries in Section 21, <br />T13S, R90W to the underlying B Seam. A similaz system of main entries, submain entries, and <br />gate entry development continues in the B Seam. Development of main and submain <br />entries and longwall panels in the E Seam was initiated in June 2004 from the existing F to <br />B Seam slopes. MCC utilizes two methods of mining coal at West Elk Mine. They are room <br />and pillar for development mining and a retreat longwall system for production mining. <br />Room and pillaz mining has been the only method used in the F Seam. It is currently used in the <br />B Seam for development mining and is plazmed for development of the E Seam. Longwall <br />mining is occurring in the B Seam and is the planned method of production mining in the E <br />Seam. <br />Room and Pillar Mining Method <br />Development mining at West Elk Mine involves driving entries through the coal seam and <br />leaving coal blocks to support the overlying strata. The resulting entries provide travel-ways, <br />ventilation, and locations for installing infrastructure to support mining activities. This <br />infrastructure includes conveyors, power, water, communications, rock dust, etc. <br />MCC uses a system of continuous miners, haulage vehicles, and a conveyor system to cut and <br />transport the coal out of the mine. First, continuous miners cut the coal from the seam. This cut <br />coal is then loaded from the miners into diesel or electric haulage vehicles. Finally, the haulage <br />vehicles transport the coal to the conveyor system for transportation out of the mine. After a cut <br />of coal is mined, a roof bolter moves in and installs roof bolts to support the roof. Conventional <br />twin-boom roof bolters will provide primary roof support by installing resin-anchored roof bolts, <br />conventional roof bolts, combination roof bolts, or other approved systems. Bolt length and use <br />of plates, mats, and mesh or other supplemental materials are determined by roof conditions. <br />The mine has a MSHA-approved roof control plan to provide protection under the anticipated <br />conditions. Roof support materials that are allowed under this approved plan include <br />mechanical roof bolts, roof trusses, resin-anchored roof bolts, timbers, resin-anchored cable <br />bolts, steel crossbars, yieldable azches, crossbars, wire mesh, concrete props called "cans" and <br />other commonly used roof support means. For support of long-life entries, air-courses, <br />critical ancilliary installations, overcasts, and other permanent or semi-permanent facilities, <br />supplemental roof support may be installed, if inspections indicate that the roof is weakening. <br />Supplemental roof support is currently utilized in the longwall panel bleeder and tailgate entries. <br />The roof control plan also includes provisions for installing supplemental support if a loose or <br />badly sagging top is detected or where abnormalities aze discovered. <br />• <br />2.05-7 Revised November 2004 PR/0 <br />