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Saz7me - 2.05.3 <br />Surface disturbance associated with degazsification activities is limited to light-use <br />• roads utilized to access the well sites and graded pad areaz utilized for drilling <br />activities and installation of surface degazsification equipment. Well sites have been <br />selected to min;mi>r new surface disturbance, where possible. Well sites can <br />normally be accessed using existing unimproved powerline access or exploration <br />roads. Minor road improvemenu such az grading and widening in certain areas may <br />be necessary to provide for drill and equipment access dependent on existing road <br />conditions. In addition, dependent on survey results, the actual drill site may be <br />beyond the limiu of existing roads, requiring road extensions of up to 800 feet. To <br />the extent feasible, borehole sites are located so chat access roads can provide access <br />for one or more degazsification installations. <br />Well pad areas are typically a maximum of 100' x 100'. If multiple wells are drilled <br />from the same pad, the dimensions of the pad will be larger, but typically will be less <br />disturbance than the sum of the individual pad dimensions. Site development <br />involves the minor road improvemenu noted above, establishment of temporary <br />upslope drainage diversion (if necessary to carry runoff around the pad area, site <br />clearing, removal and windrowing of topsoil (or sortable soil material) in stockpiles or <br />a berm on the perimeter of the pad area, grading of the pad area, and excavation of <br />temporary mud piu for containment of drilling fluids during drilling activities. Wells <br />will be drilled to a depth of up to 2,500 feet below the ground surface to intercept <br />the mine workings. A conventional truck-mounted rotary drill rig is typically utilized <br />to drill the well using rotary air, foam, and/or wet (mud) drilling methods to advance <br />and maintain the physical integrity of the well. The wells have been and will be Gazed <br />with conventional grouted steel casing for the entire length except for the portion of <br />the borehole extending from approximately 200-feet above and into the mine <br />workings, which is cased with perforated steel Gazing to max;m;>r gas extraction. <br />• Gas extraction is achieved by connecting askid-mounted vacuum pump(s) to the <br />well that creates a negative pressure, drawing methane and other gases from the mine <br />workings to and through the well(s). The vacuum pump ugas-powered, utilizing the <br />methane extracted through the well az the primary fuel source and propane az the <br />start-up fuel source for initial well pressurization. Any excess methane not utilized to <br />fuel the degasification pump is vented or in the future maybe flared-off or used in a <br />small power generator. <br />The degasification installations will continue to be operated so long az needed to <br />prevent or min;m;>P methane in the mine and/or seepage of methane from the <br />sealed mine workings into active mine areas. The degazsification installations are <br />inspected on a periodic bazis and the associated light-use road and operating <br />equipment are maintained as necessary to assure continued effective operation. <br />When the degassificacion installations are no longer required, surface facilities and <br />equipment will be removed and associated surface disturbance areas will be reclaimed <br />az described in the reclamation pLw section. It should, however, be noted that the <br />light-use roads utilized to access the borehole sites, may incorporate existing <br />unimproved public roads and maybe retained. <br />Elk Creek Mine Facilities -See the General Facilities Map, (Map 2.05-M1), and the Facilities <br />Detail Maps, (Map series 2.05-M3x). <br />A. Elk Creek Canyon Haul Road, Access Road, and Light Use Road -The Elk Creek <br />Canyon road is a pre-law road extending from the maim haul road up Elk Creek <br />Can}nn. F,xpansian of the F]k Creek coal sty ~+lr cut-tdf dimct acrrss to the ]ewer <br />portion of the Elk Creek Canyon road. Access was reestablished via the West Valley <br />haul road and a short segment of light-use road extending from the Cemetery up the <br />west side of Elk <br />PR04 2.05-20 Revised May 2001 <br />