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E 2 through E 12 Longwall Panels Methane Drainage Wells Project Plan <br />PR-14 <br />Page 10 of 13 <br />atmosphere. Active de-gassing would require a trailer or skid mounted gas exhauster, flame <br />arrestor, valves, and non-metal stack with lightning arrestor that would exhaust the gases to the <br />ambient atmosphere. The trailer would be totally enclosed with fencing and the fence gate <br />locked to prevent public access to the equipment. The equipment would need to be approved and <br />inspected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) prior to installation. <br />MONITORING <br />Initially, MSHA may require monitoring and inspection of the active de-gas installation twice <br />daily after installation. It is anticipated the frequency of monitoring would decrease to a weekly <br />monitoring and inspection of the installation. Routine maintenance will occur to the extent <br />necessary, simultaneous with the weekly monitoring. <br />PROPOSED DRILL HOLE PLUGGING METHODS <br />In accordance with the Coal Program Guidance Document - Methane Drainage and Monitoring <br />Wells, MCC will plug and abandon these MDWs per CDRMS Rules 2.05.4 and 4.07.3 at the <br />minimum. A mechanical packer will be set at the lowest possible point in the well (note that <br />subsidence damage to the casing may preclude access to the entire depth of the casing). Above <br />this packer the hole will be plugged with CDRMS approved materials to the bottom of the 5-foot <br />cement surface cap using tremmie line. The top 5-feet of the well below the sub-surface casing <br />cut-off point (3-feet below the surface) will be plugged with a cement cap. The top 3-feet of the <br />casing will then be cut off and the hole filled in with subsoil. A permanent marker shall be <br />installed on top of the plug identifying the MDW. The pad will then be reclaimed to <br />approximate original contour. <br />The Methane Drainage Well drilling experience for Mountain Coal Company has shown that no <br />aquifers have yet been encountered; however, the procedures described above would serve to <br />properly protect any aquifers that would be encountered. <br />A drawing depicting a typical abandoned MDW is attached as Figure No. 3, Proposed MDW <br />Hole Plugging Method. <br />RECLAMATION PLAN <br />Reclamation of the pads and roads will follow when it is decided by MCC that the drill holes are <br />not performing their intended purpose. <br />1. Upon completion of each phase of activity at a given site, all debris, trash, and drilling <br />related equipment, or de-gas housing will be removed from the site. <br />2. When the mud pit or pits are sufficiently dry, they will be filled with stored sub-soil <br />material and compacted to minimize any settling. <br />3. A backhoe and a bulldozer will redistribute material on and around the drill pads to <br />achieve as closely as practicable the original contour of the site. The area will then be <br />ripped or scarified. <br />10