2009-09-21_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/21/2009
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 51 Lower Refuse Pile
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Mountain Coal Company, LLC. Exhibit 51
West Elk Mine Lower Refuse Pile
2.3.5 Phase V
The pile configuration, shown by Figures 2.OB and 2.00 in Appendix B, represented the end of Phase N
construction. The first stage of Phase V involved moving subsoil and topsoil stockpiles from the east
and north benches to the west half of the existing LRP top. Topsoil and subsoil not utilized for
reclamation was later moved from the LRP top to the North Soil Storage Area (NSSA) and the Sylvester
Gulch subsoil stockpile, respectively. The next stage, shown in Figures 2.0E and 2.OF in Appendix B,
involved placing refuse fill on the north and east slopes and concurrently bringing these faces up at a
21:1 V grade to the 6250 -ft contour. Refuse placement on the north slope began at the northern extent of
the bench protruding at the 6220 -ft contour. Refuse placement on the east slope began at a 10 -ft offset
from the sediment ditch. The slopes will be reclaimed and covered with an average of 18 inches of soil
as they are constructed. The final stage of the Phase V construction will bring the refuse pile up to a
final elevation of 6330 -ft, with 2H:1 V sideslopes and covering the remainder of the graded refuse with
subsoil, topsoil and revegetating.
In 1997, MCC prepared and began utilizing the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) area, which is located to
the east of the LRP and Sylvester Gulch and immediately south of State Highway 133. The design of the
RPE is presented in Exhibit 70. MCC completed the RPE area preparation and began construction of the
coal refuse fill during the first quarter 1998. No further coal refuse disposal activity has occurred at the
LRP since the north and east benches of the LRP were filled and these slopes reconfigured as described
above. As the RPE is available for the disposal of coal refuse, MCC has temporarily discontinued further
refuse disposal at the LRP. The LRP will remain at the current elevation and configuration as long as the
RPE or other permitted disposal area remains available for coal refuse disposal and while the coal
preparation plant, coal lab and associated facilities, coal stockpiles and some materials and equipment
storage are located atop the LRP. No extraneous combustible material will be deposited on the LRP as
specified in MSHA regulations at 30 CFR 77.215 (g).
MCC also continues to investigate potential uses for coal refuse material. As the LRP may be excavated
for recovery and use (or "recycling ") of the coal refuse materials, MCC will cover the outslopes (October
1998) that were not already topsoil covered and reclaimed with subsoil only. As such, MCC will
minimize the potential loss of the topsoil resource, when stripping soils to expose and recycle the coal
refuse. MCC considers the discontinuance of refuse disposal at the LRP to be temporary, and plans to
complete the pile as designed and approved. In addition, the pile will be reclaimed as described in
Section 8.0 of this document.
2.4 Storage Capacity
Information on storage capacity for each phase of construction is provided in Table 1. The storage capacity
has also been shown in tons (assuming a wet density of 85 pcf for phases I - IV, and 59 pcf for phase V) and
an estimate of the life of each phase and total life of the pile utilizing a rate of waste production of 100,000
tons per year (room and pillar operations); 50,000 tons per year (phase IV longwall operations); and
200,000 tons per year (phase V longwall operations) has been provided in Table 2.
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