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

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2.05.3 Operation Plan -Permit Area Production Methods and Equipment The proposed Northfield Mine is located in an area of gently sloping sedimentary deposits which are overlain by sandstone bluffs and surficial colluvial/alluvial materials. All of the surrounding sedimentary formations have been tilted by the nearby Wet Mountain uplift whicl'i produced a westerly dip in the strata within the permit area. At least six coal seams of significance exist in this area although only the Ocean Wave seam has been identified as being economically recoverable under current market conditions. Previous mining has occurred in several of the seams in and adjacent to the proposed permit area. Apart from the Ocean Wave, the other seams are of limited extent or are too thin to be mined. A detailed geologic description of the proposed permit and adjacent areas is presented in Section 2.04.6, Geology Description. Northfield's; estimated annual coal production will be approximately 400,000 tons per year for the initial and subsequent permit terms. The actual annual production will depend on contracts yet to be obtained for the anticipated high BTU coal product. Most of the coal will be supiplied to industrial customers requiring a 2 x 0 inch size • product, ar~d additional sales are anticipated for a sized stoker coal product. Tree mine will operate on a two-shift per day, five day per week production schedule on a year round basis to achieve the projected annual production. A third shift per day will allow time for equipment maintenance as well as mine maintenance and necessary underground construction activities in the active working areas. The proposed room and pillar mining methods at Northfield will utilize standard modern mining equipment including continuous miners, shuttle cars, roof bolters, power centers, and feeder breakers. Each specific area in the mine where the equipment is located and producing coal is called a working section. A working section generally requires at least one of each of the above described pieces of equipment to operate, with the exception of shuttle cars. Two shuttle cars are utilized to haul coal in a section, and in some instances a third shuttlle car can be operated in the mining cycle. Additional mobile equipment wilt be utilized for support including maintenance, personnel i:ransport, and clean-up of mine areas. Northfield anticipates starting mine operations with sufficient equipment necessary 'to run one section, and subsequently adding equipment to operate a second section, though some pieces of equipment may not . need to be duplicated since they can be moved and utilized in both sections. A complete list of underground equipment, showing the 2.05.3-1