2009-01-23_REVISION - C1980007 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 1/23/2009
• Doc Name: Mine Plan Decision Document ‎(1 of 2)‎
• From: Mountain Coal Company
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: PR14
• Email Name: TAK
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• The volume of methane released per year is an average for the life of the mine and may
vary year to year based upon geology and mining conditions and coal production rates.
Under normal longwall mining methods not all of the methane drainage wells will
function for the estimated twelve year life of the mine. As mining progresses to the next
panel in sequence, subsidence will eventually render the wells in the previously mined
panels inoperable. From past subsidence history it is estimated the methane drainage
wells in each panel should function for approximately two (2) years.
Due to the timing of Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.'s operational needs, there are
three (3) related mining plan modifications recommendations from OSM to the Assistant
Secretary Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) for the West Elk mine. All are
covered by the USDA Forest Service's Deer- Creek Shaft a71d E Seam Methane Drainage
Wells Project EIS.
On May 23, 2007, Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. submitted Technical Revision
109 to the CO-DRMS. TR-109 proposed to construct the Deer Creek Shaft (and
Escapeway). TR-109 was approved by CO-DRMS on July 24, 2007, and the
mining plan modification was approved by the ASLM on October 31, 2007.
2. On October 15, 2007, Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. submitted Technical
Revision TR-111 to CO-DRMS. TR-111 proposed to install sixteen
0 (16) methane drainage wells on fourteen (14) well pads and to construct 1.52
miles of access roads disturbing a total of ten (10.0) surface acres of Federal
leases C-1362 and COC-67232 and the mining plan modification was approved
by the ASLM on July 31, 2008.
On October 15, 2007, Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. submitted Technical
Revision TR-112 to CO-DRMS. TR-112 proposes to install up to 1.52 methane
drainage wells on 131 well pads and to construct 10.02 miles of access
roads disturbing eighty (80.0) surface acres over the next twelve (12) years.
However, only 137 of the methane drainage wells, on 116 pads, and 8.52 miles of
roads, disturbing 47.5 surface acres are on Federal leases C-1362 and
COC-067232. The remainder of the wells, pads, road lengths and surface acres
are located over fee coal under lands owned by Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.
CO-DRMS began the review of TR-112 but at the request of Mountain Coal
Company, L.L.C. suspended any further review pending a decision on a permit
revision submitted by Mountain Coal Company, LLC, as discussed below.
4. On August 18, 2008, Mountain Coal Company, LLC submitted Permit Revision
PR-14 to CO-DRMS. PR-14 proposes the same activities as TR-l 12, but includes
designs that are more detailed and reclamation bond cost discussions, and is the
subject of this mining plan modification.
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