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Wesr Elk h/ine • Table 29 Recovery Rates for the F and B Seams Using Room and Pillar and Longwall Mining Methods Room and Pillar Method Location Coal Recovery Main Development 30 - 40 % Submain Development 30 - 40 % Panel Mining Partial Pillar Extraction 45 - 55 % Full Pillar Extraction 60 - 80 Total 50 Longwall Method Location Coal Recovery Main Development 30 - 40 Submain Development 30 - 40 Panels 80 - 90 % Total 70 Mine E~uinment • Mining equipment in use at the West Elk Mine varies. Typical equipment used in the development mining operations is shown on Table 30. Typical equipment used in the longwall mining operations is shown on Table 31. Use and Conservation of the Coal Resource The mine plan has been laid out to recover as much coal as practical, considering personnel safety, surface protection, and operation economics. To achieve the maximum economic recovery of the coal reserves and enhance personnel safety and the protection of surface resources, the West Elk Mine uses the longwall mining method. Although this method attains the highest overall reserve recovery, not all coal will be recovered. Although high recovery rates will be achieved for the E and B-Seams, some coal will remain unmined. Because of the regular pattern needed for longwall panel development, small areas of marginally thick E and B-Seam coal will not be mined. These areas occur where the planned longwall panel layout cannot be configured to fit the reserve area. Where E and B- Seam mining will occur, from one to two feet of top coal will be lefr unmined in the roof to improve roof conditions and hence, personnel safety and product quality. Because the full seam thickness commonly exceeds the maximum safe extraction height, some floor coal will also be lefr unmined. • 2.~5-5 6/93 Snp. 46 Revised Jan. 1994 PROS; 6/94 TRil; RevisedJune. /99S PR06: