2008-03-03_PERMIT FILE - C2006085A (2)

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2.05 Applicration for Permit for Surface or Underground Mining . ~ Activities -Minimum Requirements for Operation and Reclamation Plans 2.05.1 Obie:ctives The objectiv~~s of this permit section are to insure that the Division is provided withh comprehensive and reliable information on proposed coal mining, reclamation, and related operations for the Northfield Mine. The mining and reclamation plans described below have been designed to effect compliance with the coal regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and Colorado Surtace Mining Reclamation Act, Article 33 of Title 34, as amended, Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973. The operation and reclamation plans presented herein have been developed to reflect and address site specific conditions at the Northfield Miine. As applicable to discussion of operation and reclamation plans, environmental baseline information presented in Section 2.04•, Environmental Resources, is referenced. 2.05.2 Operation Plan -Estimated Area for Life of Operation Production h1ethods and Equipment The proposed operations at the Northfield Mine will utilize room and pillar mining methods to extract coal from a single seam known in this area as the iDcean Wave seam. There are no economically mineable coal seams near the surtace within the proposed permit area, and no surtace mining will be conducted during the life of this operation. Access to the Ocean Wave seam will be established by development of a decline an,d a ventilation shaft to the coal through the overlying sedimentary' rock. in an area on the east side of the permit area near Chandler Creek. Once the development work is completed to the coal, production vvill begin with typical coal mining equipment including continuous ruiners, electric shuttle cars, roof bolters, feeder breakers, and various utility vehicles. Major equipment anticipated to be utilized at the operations, both underground and on the surtace, is described later in Section 2.05.3. Coal extracted at the mining face will be transported from the working sections of the mine to the surtace by a series of belt conveyors. Mine plans heave been developed to maximize coal recovery while maintaining compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. Development of the reserves will proceed by mining a main entry • system from the portal area towards the western area of the reserve block. Subm~ain entry systems will be mined to the north and south 2.05-1 Revised 5.01.07