PERMFILE134108

• Permit No: C1980007A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/6/2003
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 51 Lower Refuse Pile
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. Exhibit 51
West Elk Mine ~ Lower Refuse Pile
2.3 Phasing
• Due to spacelimita[ionsandinordertominimizemultiplehandlingofmaterials.pileconstructionhasbeen
phased. There are f ive separate phases of construction which are described, both in the test and on maps in
Appendix B.
2.3.1 Phase I
Phase t represented an extension of apre-existing temporary lay-down area. The materials that were in
place prior [o permitting of the lower refuse pile were compacted throughout both Phase I and Phase I1.
Other important aspects of Phase I included the construction of an underdrain system, site preparation and
construction of the topsoil stockpile. and the realienmen[ of a short section of Sylvester Gulch Road to
permit site preparation and construction of the subsoil stockpile (see Figure LWP-002 for more details on
Phase I construction).
2.3.2 Phase II
Phase II construction filled in the northeast comer of the pile construction begun in Phase 1. Phase II
allowed continued reprocessine of existing uncompacted materials and allowed the extension of the
underdrain system westerly to intercept the existine sedimentation basin (see figure LWP-003 for more
detailed informa[ionon Phase II construction).
2.3.3 Phase III
' Phase 111 extended the pile to the south and the edge of the existing Sylvester Gulch Road. Throughout
- Phases l through Ill, pile construction was accessed on existing roads. Completion of Phase III
construction fully established the lower slopes in [he toe area of the pile at a 2.SH to 1 V slope and provided
a 50-foot wide bench at approximately elevation 6200 feet (see Figure LWP-004 for more details on Phase
I11 construction).
23.d PhaselV
Several important events occurred at the beeinning of Phase IV construction. The topsoil stockpile which
had been utilized for the reclamation of Phase 1 through Phase 111 was relocated onto the 50-foot bench
constructed during Phase 111. The alignment of the Sylvester Gulch Road was relocated to the eastern edge
of the pile along Sylvester Gulch. Anew refuse pile access road was constructed above the pile between
Sylvester Gulch Road and the former main access road for the mine. An existing water line, identified as
[he Tony Bear Pipeline, was located and the portion of the line beneath the pile was plueged and abandoned.
The portion located above the access road was intercepted and diverted into Sylvester Gulch to permit
continued access [o water rights serviced by the line (see Section 7.3). Phase IV construction represented
the firs[ major advance across the lower access road and up the southwest slopes. Placement of material in
the area was preceded by the construction of a second underdrain s}•stem along the alignment of the lower
access road from the west side of the pile [o Sylvester Gulch Road. The underdrain provides for leachate
collection and safely conveys water from a number of existing seeps at the toe of the steeply sloping area
along [he lower road alignment (see Figure 2.0 and the new reconfigured pile designs, Figures 2.06-2.OF,
for more detailed informationon Phase IV construction).