PERMFILE137707

• Permit No: C1981022A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/2/2003
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05 Minimum Requirements for Operation and Reclamation Plans
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Saziar: - 2.05.2
Initially, the longwall mining system is being utilized to recover the Sanborn Creek B Seam reserves
• previously blocked out under existing approved mining plans. The initial longwall operations in the B
Seam are providing valuable experience and training for future longwall operations in the D Coal
Seam reserves to the north and west, which will be accessed from the new Ells Creek Mtne portals.
Ooeradon Description
Eazly mining operations in the area are identified and discussed in Section 2.04.3, Site Description and
Land Use Information. Recent operations within the Pertnit Area (post-1960) include the Somerset
Mtne, Sanborn Creek Mine, and the new Elk Creek Mute.
The Somerset Mute ceased production at the end of 1985. The portak to the mine have been sealed
and no further mitring is expected to take place from the Somerset Mine B and C Seam portals
located in the Elk Creek drainage. Reclaimed or partially reclaimed facilities areas associated with the
Somerset Mine are located in Bear and Hubbard Creek Canyons. Surface coal handling, support, and
ancillary facilities for the Somerset Mute, originally established at the mouth of Elk Geek, have been
modified and upgraded over the years to meet changing operational and regulatory requirements and
continue to be used to support ongoing operations.
The Sanborn Creek Mme is the currant active mining operation, with coal production from the B
Coal Seam using longwall rrtuting methods. The active Sanborn Creek Mme is supported by hrttited
surface facilities located at the mouth of Sanborn Creek and north of the relocated railroad grade,
including the mine portak, substation, and ventilation installations. Current operatioru in the
Sanborn Creek Mrne are designed to produce approximately 4,000,000 to 4,800,000 tons of coal
annually. It u anticipated, that at current production rates, the existing B-Seam reserves in the
Sanborn Creek Mine will be depleted by approximately 2002. In order to maintain ongoing mining
• operations at a stable production rate, development work and initial production (development coal)
from the Elk Geek D-Seam Mute will be initiated in 2001. By the time the existing Sanborn Creek
Mme reserves are depleted, development of the fast longwall panels in the Elk Creek Mute will be
complete so that the longwall system can be moved from the Sanborn Creek Mme to the Elk Creek
Mine and longwall production from the Elk Creek Mine can be initiated with minimal delay. Final
production from the Sanborn Geek Mute will be scheduled to both meet coal sales commitments and
to gradually build-up the Elk Creek coal stockpile to maximum capacity. The stockpile will serve as a
buffer during the transition of longwall operations from the Sanborn Creek Mine to the Elk Creek
Mine so that coal shipments can continue doting the transition period.
The Elk Creek Mute will access the D Coal Seam from portals located in the middle portion of the
Elk Geek drainage. The Elk Creek Mme will be supported by limited surface facilities also located in
the Elk Creek drainage neaz the D Seam subcrop including the mine portak, ventilation shafts and
fan installations, a substation, and dewatering installations and surface water storage tank Initial
development activities for the Elk Creek Mine will involve the use of continuous mining equipment
to develop a system of main entries and to complete initial longwall panel development within the
private coal reserve block future development and mining would extend northward into the Federal
coal reserves in the Elk Creek Tract lease. Longwall mining of the coal reserves will follow initial
development. Future mining in the D Seam will involve the use of continuous methods for mine
development and longwall mining as the dominant coal production method. There is the potential
that additional limited ventilation, electrical distribution, and emergency access development could
occur as mining operations progress to the west. OMI u aware that any such facilities and surface
disturbances would be subject to additional permit approvak.
The production rate for both the existing Sanborn Creek Mine and the planned Elk Creek Mine is or
. will be governed by coal sales. The minimum production rate is about 500,000 tons per yeaz with a
mawrnum production rate of 4,800,000 tons per yeaz.
The Elk Creek coal handling, support, and ancillary facihties continue to be used to suppon ongoing
operations for the Sanborn Geek Mme and will support future operations for the Elk Creek NLne.
PR04 2.05-2 Revised August 2000