|
Right), the Foidel Creek Mine Union Pacific railroad spur (Panels 7 -Right through 10- Right), and several
<br />powerlines were undermined and subsided without any significant damage. Both a mine dewatering borehole and a
<br />• new ventilation shaft and escape hoist were established from the 10 -Right longwall panel to support future mining
<br />operations in the NMD.
<br />On intercepting one of the two major identified fault zones within the coal reserve area, the main entries were
<br />turned to the northeast and the 3 Mains were extended approximately 4,000 feet, ramping up through the
<br />fault zone. Where the main entries intercepted the coal seam on the east side of the fault, the mains were turned
<br />back to the northwest and the 5 - North Mains were extended approximately 6,000 feet to develop the NMD. As an
<br />extension the 3` North Mains, the 4 Mains were developed, and the head -gate and tailgate entries for
<br />Longwall Panel 12 were driven from the 4 - North Mains to initiate development of the NMD. During initial
<br />development of the NMD, a 300 -foot barrier pillar was established between the Eastern and Northern Mining
<br />Districts. From the fault - crossing, sub -mains were progressively developed to the east - northeast off the 5North
<br />Mains for Panels 13 -Right through 17- Right. In this portion of the NMD, panel widths were expanded to
<br />approximately 1,000 feet, and panel lengths extended up to 16,000 feet. To maintain adequate ventilation airflows,
<br />a new ventilation shaft was established off the 5 - North Mains, in -line with the 15 -Right Longwall Panel. During
<br />mining of Panels 12 -Right through 17- Right, a portion of Foidel Creek (Panel 12- Right), a portion of Fish Creek
<br />(Panels 13 -Right through 17- Right), the Foidel Creek Mine Union Pacific railroad spur (Panels 12 -Right through
<br />17- Right), and several powerlines were undermined and subsided without any significant damage.
<br />At the northern limit of Panel 17, the Mains were turned back to the west, and the 6 Mains were extended
<br />approximately 2,400 feet, both in preparation for future development of the WMD, and to maintain maximum panel
<br />length for mining of the remainder of the NMD. The 7 -North Mains were extended approximately 7,500 feet to the
<br />northwest, off the 6 Mains, to support development and mining of Panels 18 -Right through 23 -Right in the
<br />NMD. Panel widths in this portion of the NMD have been maintained at approximately 1,000 feet, and panel
<br />lengths vary up to approximately 14,000 feet. Continuing development of mine ventilation facilities, to maintain
<br />• adequate ventilation airflow, included construction of a new ventilation intake shaft, equipped with an emergency
<br />escape hoist and ventilation air heater, on the eastern end of the 18 -Right Longwall Panel.
<br />At roughly the center of Panel 23- Right, the mains were turned to the north, and the 8 Mains were extended
<br />approximately 1,200 feet to the northern limit of the mineable coal reserves. Development and mining of the NMD
<br />will be completed with mining and recovery of the remaining coal reserves in Panels 23 -Right through 24- Right.
<br />Given decreasing panel lengths for Panels 20 -Right through 25- Right, increasing grades as the coal seam turns up
<br />along the margins of the reserve area, and associated ground control and coal quality issues, the final panel, Panel
<br />25 -Right was eliminated. In order to provide adequate ventilation airflow for both the northern portion of the NMD
<br />and future development of the WMD, a new intake ventilation air shaft was established over the 6 -North Mains
<br />intersection. The shaft is equipped with an emergency escape hoist and ventilation air heater, and other mine infra-
<br />structure (electrical substation and power -drop boreholes, mine dewatering borehole and surface storage facilities,
<br />rock -dust storage tank and borehole, compressor station and compressed air borehole, and bulk - material drop
<br />borehole) has been established to serve both the Northern and Western Mining Districts.
<br />To support development and mining of the WMD, the 6 -North Mains were extended approximately 600 feet further
<br />to the west, and the new 9- and 10 -North Mains were extended approximately 6,900 feet to the southeast to connect
<br />back to the 3 -North Mains. Panels 12 -Left through 17 -Left, and the 13- and 14 -Left Irby Panels will be developed
<br />from the 6 Mains extension, and the 9- and 10 -North Mains. Development and mining of the WMD will be
<br />phased; with initial development (Phase I) of sub -mains and head -gate and tailgate entries for Panels 17- and 19-
<br />Left previously approved under TR07 -63; development of the the 9- and 10 -North Mains and remaining head -gate
<br />and tail -gate entries up to the limits of the pending federal coal lease under Phase II (TR08 -64); extension of Panels
<br />17- and 18 -Left and associated bleeder entries to their western limits under Interim Phase III; and remaining panel
<br />development, mining of the WMD, and construction of required surface facilities under Phase III, which is
<br />• addressed by PR09 -08 and TR09 -71 to the approved permit. Panel widths in the WMD will be maintained at
<br />approximately 1,000 feet (with the exception of Panel 19 -Left, which will be approximately 800 feet wide), and
<br />panel lengths will vary up to approximately 20,000 feet. Approximately 45,000 feet of mains are expected to be
<br />driven over the life -of -mine.
<br />TR09 -71 2.05 -13 12/30/09
<br />
|