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<br /> <br />the hopper with a front-end loader. After the coal is dumped into the <br />hopper, it passes through a feeder breaker and a crusher where it is <br />reduced to 2 x 0 in size. The coal is then moved down the hill on a series <br />of four covered belt conveyors to a storage silo. The housing around the <br />belt prevents the belt from freezing during winter snow falls and also <br />minimizes the potential for coal dust to become airborne. <br />Coal is removed from the silo by conveyor belt to a surge bin within <br />the loadout facility and then into railroad cars. A vibrating screen for <br />removing 1.25• x 0.25' stoker coal for domestic use is located at the <br />transfer point between the third and fourth conveyor belt. <br />The original facilities which consisted of the preparation plant, <br />truck and train-loading facilities, and associated railroad tracks were <br />constructed in 1949. The conveyor system was first built in 1951 and later <br />modified in 1963, 1967, 1977 and the 1980x. In the 1980x, the rapid <br />loadout facility was completed according to a technical revision approved <br />by the Mined Land Reclamation Board. At the present time, the original <br />• preparation plant is not being used with the exception of the stoker coal <br />conveyor and bins. The coal-handling structure is shown in Exhibit 3.6-1. <br />All drainage from the coal-handling facilities passes through <br />approved sediment control structures. Drainage from the coal stockpile and <br />hopper areas is directed towards the Facilities Pond. Drainage from the <br />conveyor system up hill of the Goat Trail is captured by the Goat Trail <br />drainage control system and directed to the tipple ponds. Drainage from <br />the conveyor belt system below the Goat Trail is captured by the tipple <br />facilities drainage system and also directed to the tipple sediment ponds. <br />Vegetation was not removed beneath or adjacent to the conveyor belt <br />structure during the initial construction of the conveyor belt nor during <br />any of the modifications performed in later years. The conveyor was <br />constructed and modified twice prior to the enactment of SMCRA (topsoil <br />salvaging was not required until the passage of SMCRA). During the 1977 <br />modification the troughing idlers supporting the coal laden portion of the <br />belt were changed from 20° to 35°. This modification resulted in virtually <br />eliminating the loss of coal product from the conveyor belt. <br />In the fall of 1980, Mined Land Reclamation Division personnel noted <br />• small amounts of coal fines were accumulating under the conveyor and <br />Mid-term '9d 3.6-5 September 15, 1994 <br />