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iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiu <br />999 <br />~ 2.05 Application For Permit for Surface or <br />Underground Mining Activities <br />2.05.1 Objectives <br />This section is an overview of the underground coal mining operation and the associated <br />surface operation Mountain Coal Company plans to continue using at the West Elk Mine. The <br />life of the mine may be about 40 years, depending upon coal sales. <br />2.05.2 Operation Plan -Estimated Area for Life of Operation <br />The West Elk Mine has been producing coal since 1982. Before 1990, coal was produced <br />from a single coal seam (F-Seam) using the room and pillar method. During 1990, Mountain <br />Coal Company began preparations to produce coal from a second seam (B-Seam) using the <br />longwall method of mining. <br />Mine Layout <br />• The extent of the F-Seam mine workings in the West Elk Mine is shown on Map 50. The <br />current E-Seam life-of--mine plan is shown on Map 51. The current B-Seam mine workings <br />and the remaining life-of-mine plan are shown on Map 52. The main portals and principal <br />surface facilities are located in Section 16 of Township 135, Range 90W, 6'" P.M. <br />Mountain Coal Company developed the F-Seam mine by driving a series of life-of-mine main <br />entries from the point where the seam outcrops. A total of nine main intakes and seven main <br />returns were driven. The main entries were driven southwest to avoid an area along the <br />margin of Sylvester Gulch of predicted poor hydrologic and geologic mining conditions. <br />Submains were developed off the main entries. From these submain entries, production panels <br />were developed. <br />Mountain Coal Company accesses the B-Seam via two slopes and a ventilation shaft driven <br />from the main intakes of the existing F-Seam workings (Figure 16). One of the slopes is a <br />haulage and main intake slope. The second slope contains a 60-inch conveyor belt. Both <br />slopes are approximately 2,450 feet long with a 14-percent grade. The haulage and main <br />intake slope is about 18 feet wide by 11 feet high. The slope with the conveyor belt is 14 feet <br />wide by 9 feet high. The 400-foot long by 18-foot diameter ventilation shaft connects the B- <br />Seam return air entries with the F-Seam return air entries. <br /> <br />2.05-1 RevisedAug.93 Srip. 48; RevisedJon. 199.t PROS; Revised Jun 1995 PR06: <br />