2009-11-20_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A (3)

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distribution equipment will be used as needed as mining progresses. This equipment fleet includes both diesel and electrical machinery. At the Fish Creek Tipple, neither surface nor underground mining are proposed. The areal extent of disturbed areas and previously reclaimed tracts are further described within Rule 2.05.2 of the Fish Creek Tipple Permit Application (Appendix to PAP, Volume VII). SOUTHWESTERN MINING DISTRICT (SWMD) TCC, through the acquisition of the unleased federal coal reserves located in the SWMD, added additional recoverable reserves to its existing mine plan. The SWMD lease application was submitted to the BLM on January 27, 1992. The SWMD lease, Number C-53560, was effective on January 1, 1994. The same mining methods used in the Foidel Creek mine were utilized in the SWMD. In this area, the longwall face was extended to approximately 850 feet, as opposed to its original width of approximately 640 feet. The gate roads were developed by continuous miners, and coal was extracted from the panels by use of the longwall machinery. EASTERN MINING DISTRICT (EMD) Twentymile Coal Company expanded its operation into what is known as the EMD. TCC secured a new federal lease, lease COC-54608, and acquired private and state leases for this area. TCC continued to utilize longwall mining as the primary technique for ensuring maximum recovery of the resource. As in the SWMD, the face was initiated at 850 feet in width, although as technology advanced, the face width was increased. Panels varied in length from approximately 10,000 to 17,000 feet. The gate roads were developed by continuous miners, consistent with standard practice in the mine. EMD (Panels 2-Right through 6-Right, PR97-04) • Twentymile Coal continued mining the remaining reserves in the EMD as shown on Map 23, Mine Plan Map. TCC secured all the federal and state leases required to mine in this area. TCC continued to utilize longwall mining as the primary technique to assure maximum recovery of the resource. Generally, mining continued with a 850 foot wide face and panel lengths ranging from 10,800 to 16,800 feet in the EMD, covered by the five-year permit, 1993 - 1998. The gateroads, mains, and sub-mains were developed by continuous miner. Face Extension (Panels 2- and 3-Right, TR99-33) TCC's mine plan called for longwall Panels 2- and 3-Right to have a face width of 1,000 feet. Panel 2-Right was also extended approximately 200 feet to the northeast. TCC continued to utilize the same mining techniques to extract the coal from the panels and gateroads. Full 200 foot extension was limited only by mining or geologic conditions. NORTHERN MINING DISTRICT (NMD) 12-Right Gateroad Extension and Associated Areas (TR00-36) TCC obtained approval to continue driving the 12-Right Gateroad, the northern half of the 12-Right Longwall Panel start room, and the southern half of the 13-Right Longwall Panel start room during the 1993-1998 five-year permit term. This area was within the existing permit boundary, involved mining of coal from State Lease CO- 3229, and served to provide a smooth transition to the Northern Mining District. TR08-64 2.05-2 06/17/08