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Hvdroloev <br />The Lone Pine Gulch B-Seam portals aze at an elevation of approximately 6,480 feet <br />compared to the F-Seam Portals at the West Elk Mine site situated at approximately <br />6,473 feet. Due to the dip of the coal seam, the entire abandoned azea water (which <br />includes Northwest Longwell Panels (Nos.l-7); the Jumbo Mountain Longwell Panels <br />(Nos. 8 and 9), and Longwell Panels (Nos. 12, 13, 13A)] could eventually flow to this <br />portal azea. The worst-case scenario would show water accumulating behind the seals <br />and bulkheads at the Lone Pine Portals. If the water accumulates against the seals and <br />bulkheads it could create the potential for high static head pressure and create the <br />potential risk of bulkhead failure. However, due to shallow surface cracking known to <br />occur in the out-crop area and the fact that the Northwest Panel Sump is drained of water <br />via piping (apass-through) from the No 1. Northwest Longwell Panel to Panels Nos. 10 <br />and 11 sump (Northeast sealed sump), it is not expected that water would build-up or <br />accumulate behind the Lone Pine Portal bulkheads. Designs for the bulkheads have <br />incorporated this worst-case scenario. If, for any reason, the pass-through piping <br />becomes blocked, the water in the Northwest Panels could accumulate at the Lone Pine <br />Gulch Portal seals and bulkheads and then flow to the Box Canyon Mains. The sump <br />descriptions and operation aze included in the approved mining and reclamation permit at <br />pages 2.05-237 through 2.05- 248. <br />The bulkheads are designed as watertight barriers capable of withstanding 130 feet (or 56 <br />psi) of head pressure. Additionally, placement of backfill material against the outside of <br />the bulkheads will increase the strength of the bulkhead and the forces it can withstand. <br />As was previously stated, the water could accumulate behind the Lone Pine Portal <br />bulkheads. Water would accumulate to the point of overflowing at the No. 6 Entry of the <br />B-West Mains at an elevation of 6,557 feet. If the elevation of the Portals (6,480 feet) is <br />subtracted from the elevation at No. 6 Entry of the B-West Mains (6,557 feet) the head <br />pressure exerted on the Lone Pine Portal bulkheads is 77 feet or 33 psi. The water, upon <br />reaching No. 6 Entry, would then flow to the Longwell Panels Nos. 10 and 11 sump. <br />From this sump the water is pumped from the mine via the Mine De-Watering Borehole <br />Facility in Sylvester Gulch. If water were to fill the Nos. 10 and 11 Panel Sump the <br />water would flow to the down-dip active workings in the Box Canyon Mains. <br />It is not expected that water would exit the F-Seam Portals because the top ofthe F-Seam <br />Slope entries are at an average elevation of 6,856 feet. <br />The post-mining dewatering will be addressed in the future when mine closure is <br />anticipated. This issue was addressed in the Box Canyon Panels Sealed Sump in the <br />approved mining and reclamation permit at page 2.05-242. <br />Drawin¢s <br />Attached aze the general arrangement, plan view, and profile of the bulkheads. <br />