2007-07-26_PERMIT FILE - C1981022A (3)

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Doc Date:12/11/2001 III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII sss RULE 2 -PERMIT • 2.05 -MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATION AND RECLAMATION PLANS 2.05.2 -Operation Plan -Estimated Area for Life of Operation The following subsections describe general mine operation, production, and sequencing considerations for the life of the underground mining operations as a basis for the understanding and evaluation of potential Honing-related impacts and development of any appropriate plans for conservation of resources and control or mitigation of mining-related impacts. The information presented in this section is based primarily on available historical docurnentation of previous mining operations, existing mine permit information, and OMI's plans for ongoing and future mine development and operations. Production Methods and Eauioment Historical mining operations in this area, initiated in about 1902, have utilized a variety of mining methods and equipment. There has been a progressive transition from the non-mechanized hand mining methods rued in the eazly 1900's to the highly mechanized longwall mining method used today. Prior to World War I, most of the mining in the area involved the use of hand methods, with pick and shovel and limited drilling and blasting being use to mine the coal and mule-drawn rail cars being used to bring the coal co the surface. After World Waz I, mechanized conventional mining methods became more common, with a horizontal cutter being used to undercut the seam, horizontal drills being used to drill and break the seam, and loading machines being used to transfer the coal to shuttle cars for ttaruport. In the late 1940's, the cutting machines, coal drills, and loading machines were replaced by drurrrhead continuous miners. With increasing competition and the resultant need • for increased rnirrirtg efficiencies and recovery, continuous miners and shuttle cats have gradually been replaced in the 1980's and 1990's byhigh-efficiencylongwall systertts Until August 1998, underground mining in the B Seam in the Sanbom Cmek More involved room and pillar techniques using continuous miners and shuttle cars. Using this mining method, newly exposed roof is supported in accordance with an approved roof support plan incorporating full roof bolting and additional support materials as required by local conditions. Coal is loaded from the working face by continuous miners into shuttle cars which transport the coal to the conveyor belt loading point. Conve}vr belu transport the coal to the surface. Along with safety of the miners and protection of the environment, maximum economic recovery of the coal reserve is one of OMI's primary objectives. In order to assure continued mining operations and maximum economic recovery, OMI evaluated existing operations; completed detailed planning, engineering, and environmental srudies; and, in 1995, initiated a mine expansion program to improve mine operating efficiencies and increase mine output. Primary components of the mine expansion program included installation of ahigh-capacity longwall mirtirtg system and modification of underground and surface coal handling systems for the Sanbom Creek Mme to support the maximum coal produttion level of 4,800,000 tons per yEaz. The expansion project also included construction of new surface facilities and development of a new coal refuse and mine development waste disposal area. Longwall development involves the use of continuous mining equipment and methods to outline the longwall panels, establishing headgate and tailgate entries on either side of each longwall panel, bleeder entries for ventilation at the faz end of the panels, and a barrier pillar adjacent to the main or sub-maitt haulage entries. Once panel development is completed, the longwall equipment is set-up at the far end of the panel and retreats back from this point towazd the maitt access entry. Similar to room and pillar mtmng, coal generated by the longwall operations u discharged to the mme conveyer system which transports the coal to the surface. PR04 2.05-1 Revised August 2000