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West Elk Mine <br />West Elk Mine's major surface facilities are located 1 mile east of the town of Somerset, <br />Colorado, and just south of State Highway 133. Access to the mine is through the F Seam, with <br />the F Seam portals at an elevation of approximately 6,450 feet AMSL in an area of covered slope <br />and semi-consolidated slump debris. Additionally, access is provided through the intake air shaft <br />in Sylvester Gulch. Exhibit 15 is cross-sections along the portal entry to the subcrop of the F <br />Seam. Map 33 is a location map of the portal entries. Map 53 also shows the location of the <br />portals. Slopes within the mine provide access from the F Seam down to the B Seam. These <br />same slopes will also provide access to the intermediate E Seam. <br />Tab/e 32 <br />Projected Emp/oyment Needs at West E/k Mine for the Life of Mine <br /> Coal Production Total Employment <br /> (millions of tons per year rounded) (number of persons at year-end) <br />Year Actual Projected Actual Projected <br />1997 5.5 --- 292 --- <br />1998 5.9 --- 275 --- <br />1999 7.0 --- 324 --- <br />2000 3.4 --- 398 --- <br />2001 5.0 --- 359 --- <br />2002 6.4 --- 363 --- <br />2003 6.5 --- 375 --- <br />2004 7.1 --- 380 --- <br />2005 5.5 --- 425 --- <br />2006 6.0 --- 445 --- <br />2007 6.9 --- 429 --- <br />2008 5.9 --- 45 5 --- <br />2009 - 2010 --- 7.0 --- 365 <br />201 1 - 2018 --- 7.0 - 7.5 --- 318 <br />In all portal excavations, the material removed before reaching the F Seam is colluvium <br />consisting of weathered debris, mainly sandstone blocks and clay. To assure stability in this area, <br />a cut was made in the colluvium slope and a concrete retaining wall was installed (Map 33). <br />Logs of drill holes in the portal area are shown on the cross-sections, included as Exhibit 15. <br />The main surface facilities consist of sediment control structures, coal handling facilities, support <br />facilities for mine operations, and other related facilities. Support facilities for mine operations <br />include the offices, maintenance shops, warehouses, and bathhouse. Other related facilities <br />include refuse disposal sites, equipment and material storage areas, and the mine exhaust fans. <br />The surface facilities in Sylvester Gulch include two ventilation shafts, two mine ventilation fans, <br />substation, powerlines, electric mine borehole, methane drainage, rock dust storage, compressed <br />air, and other support facilities, including, but not limited to, sediment control structures. <br />Sediment control structures and coal handling facilities are described below in Sections 2.05.3(4) <br />and 2.05.3(7), respectively. Waste handling facilities are discussed in Sections 2.05.3(6), <br />2.05.3(8), and 2.05.3(9). The main support facilities for mine operation are described in this <br />section. <br />General Construction Procedures <br />2.05-/6 Revised June 2005 PRIG; Rev. January 2006; Rev. March 2006; Rev. Apri12006 PRIO, May 2006 PR10; Rev. January 2009 MR-350 <br />