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• WacrPwarrr Treatment Ptanr -The West Elk Mine has apackage-type wastewater treatment plant <br />to treat sewage from the mine's facilities. The plant has a capacity of 10,000 gallons per day. <br />With an aeration basin and clarifier, the plant provides primary and secondary treatment. The <br />wastewater treatment plant is operated under applicable state laws that govern wastewater <br />treatment facilities, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the <br />Envirotunent. <br />In 1996, Mountain Coal Company expanded the plant to increase the throughput to 20,000 gpd. <br />The expansion included a 3,000 gallon flow equalization tank, an additional clarifier and a <br />flocculent system. The clazifier is added to provide additional retention and clarification as a <br />passive safeguard to plant operation. The flocculent system will be used as a secondary <br />safeguard that may be operated to enhance solids settling in the primary clarifier. <br />One of the major components of the mine ventilation program is the Sylvester Gulch Fan. This <br />faci[iry is located in Sylvester Gulch approximately one-half mile south of the mine facilities area. <br />Information concerning the design and operation of the fan is contained in Exhibit 42. <br />The Lone Pine Gulch Portals were situated approximately one (1) mile west of Somerset, <br />Colorado, at an elevation of approximately 6,480 feet. The Lone Pine Fan Facility was <br />constructed in 1995, accessing the B-Seam, to serve the West Elk Mine as the primary ventilation <br />facility for the then completed Northwest Longwall Panels (Nos. 1-7); the Jumbo Mountain <br />Longwall Panels (Nos. 8 and 9), and the Southern Longwall Panels (Nos. 12, 13, 13A). These <br />12 longwal] panels were isolated underground from the active workings, using explosion resistant <br />seals, and the entire area is now abandoned. Watertight bulkheads were installed in each of the <br />portals in 2001. The designs, portal profiles, and plan view of the bulkheads are shown on <br />Drawing Nos. 42A-1, 42A-2, 42A-3 included in Exhibit 42A, in Volume 7 of the Permit <br />Document. The area will be reclaimed in 2001 or 2002. <br />,~j~he. cter Galch I/enti/atinn ,Gt ~fic .Cite <br />In order to ensure adequate mine ventilation for West E!k Mine's current and future mining <br />areas, new ventilation shafts (intake and exhaust shafts) are required. Construction of the site for <br />the large intake shaft and the large return shaft began during the Spring of 1997 and shaft sinking <br />began in the fall of 1997. The ventilation facility is located approximately one half mile from the <br />existing Sylvester Gulch Fan (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction and <br />operation of the ventilation facility are contained in Exhibit 69. <br />A third ventilation shaft (Vent Shaft ~t3) was constructed during the summer of 1997. Vent Shaft <br />t!3 is a 10-foot finished diameter shaft located approximately 400 feet east of the electric borehole <br />site (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction, and operation of the ventilation <br />facility are contained in Exhibit 69. <br />2.05-21 ReviseA Sep. 1996 A1R/95.July 100/ TR-93 <br />