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West Elk Mine <br />the large intake shaft and the large return shaft began during spring of 1997 and shaft sinking <br />began in the fall of 1997. The ventilation facility is located approximately one half mile from the <br />existing Sylvester Gulch Fan (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction and <br />operation of the ventilation facility is contained in Exhibit 69. <br />A third ventilation shaft (Vent Shaft #3) was constructed during the summer and fall of 1997. <br />Vent Shaft #3 is a 10-foot finished diameter shaft located approximately 400 feet east of the <br />electric borehole site (Map 53B). Information regarding the design, construction, and operation <br />of the ventilation facility is contained in Exhibit 69. <br />De~asircation Site <br />A degasification borehole is located approximately 225 feet west of the electric borehole site in <br />Sylvester Gulch. It was constructed during the summer of 1997. This borehole is not currently <br />operating. Recent installation of methane drainage facilities in Sylvester Gulch accommodates <br />West Elk Mine's "in-mine" methane collection and transmission system. Methane gas, captured <br />in the mine, is collected and transported in poly-pipe up Ventilation Shaft No. 3 and then vented. <br />Some methane gas from the mine is used to heat mine ventilation air at Ventilation Shaft No. 1, <br />in a system completed in 2003. <br />Mine Dewaterin~ and Treatment Facilities Description <br />Sylvester Gulch <br />MCC has designed mine dewatering and treatment facilities to be located within the Sylvester <br />Gulch drainage. The system consists of one 18-inch cased borehole, one 16-inch borehole <br />(completed as a 12-inch cased hole), and two 20-inch cased boreholes, completed during the <br />summer of 1997 to access the operational sump in the northeast corner of the IONE Tailgate. <br />Following the completion of ventilation seals on the lONE and 11NE longwall panels, this area <br />has become the NE Panels Sealed Sump. MCC utilizes the sealed sump as a large volume mine <br />water storage area and will pump the water out of the mine through one of the boreholes to <br />Sylvester Gulch. The smaller borehole will serve as a recirculation loop to the sump and the two <br />20-inch cased boreholes will serve as alternate recirculation boreholes and/or boreholes for water <br />level indicators. Refer to the Probable Hydrologic Consequences section of the permit for <br />additional discussion of the sumps. <br />The treatment facilities will include a dewatering pump station and treatment building, <br />presedimentation basin, decant return basin and pump station, sludge drying lagoons, and <br />finishing pond. A detailed discussion of each facility is provided in Exhibit 69, Sylvester Gulch <br />Facilities Area. <br />Temporary Bathhouse <br />Facilities necessary to house additional personnel for E Seam construction and development <br />work are planned to be installed near Shaft # 1 in Sylvester Gulch in late April and be <br />2.05-22 Revised June 2005 PRl D; Rev. January 2006; Rev. March 2006; Rev. Apri12006 PR70, May 1006 PRIO; Rev. January 2009 MR-350 <br />