2009-09-18_PERMIT FILE - C1981012A ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981012A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/18/2009
• Section_Exhibit Name: Section 2.05 Operation and Reclamation Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

(1) Production, Methods and Equipment
Mining is projected to commence in late 2009 or 2010 and reach an annual rate of
500,000 tons per year during the first year of mining. Two continuous miner sections
will be employed during the first year of production. Mining equipment will consist
of a continuous miner, diesel and/or electric shuttle car haulage to a feeder breaker
placing coal onto conveyor belt haulage in each section. Coal will be transported to
the surface by conveyor belt.
Production during the remainder of the permit term is scheduled to increase to a
maximum of three million tons per year. To reach this production level additional
continuous miner sections will be placed into service.
(2) Description of Surface Operations
The surface facilities associated with the New Elk Mine are shown on Map 11
Surface facilities and Roads East Portal and Map 12 Surface Facilities and Roads
West Portal and Figure 2-A. The surface disturbance boundary is also shown on
these maps. The New Elk mining operations began in 1952 and the majority of
surface facilities are built on development refuse used as fill in the River Valley.
Construction and placement of most of the surface facilities took place prior to
August 3, 1977. Major exceptions include the Preparation Plant and associated
facilities, sediment ponds and Apache Canyon Airshafts. Individual facilities are
• indicated on Table 19 Surface Facilities List and shown on Maps 11 and 12.
Reclamation of these facilities is discussed in subsequent sections of this document.
Raw coal will be transported by conveyor belt to a raw coal stockpile. Raw coal will
either be loaded onto trucks or fed via conveyor belt into the preparation plant. Clean
coal will be transported from the plant to the clean coal storage stockpile via
conveyor belt. The raw or processed coal will be loaded onto trucks from stockpile
using a front-end loader and shipped via Highway 12 to regional markets. Clean coal
may also be stored in the existing coal silos and loaded directly to trucks or with the
front-end loader.
The projected increase to one million tons scheduled for year 2 of mining will require
the reinstallation of rail to the mine site. A new unit train loadout will also be
constructed. These changes will not result in an increase in disturbed area and will be
addressed in a permit revision when rail installation is started.
Coal refuse and waste material will be disposed of by conveying it to the refuse
disposal area (RDA) or by slurry to the abandoned portion of the New Elk
underground workings. Development waste will also be disposed of in the RDA.
These facilities are described in detail in the following sections.
Other coal processing support facilities are required and have been constructed at the
• site. These facilities include buildings, roads, water system, sediment control system,
and preparation plant. Roads and sediment control structures are discussed in the
TR-50 Page 2.05-4 Revised 3/28/09