2010-05-07_PERMIT FILE - C2006085 (2)

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2.05 Application for Permit for Surface or Underground Mining Activities - Minimum Requirements for Operation and Reclamation Plans 2.05.1 Objectives The objectives of this permit section are to insure that the Division is provided with comprehensive and reliable information on proposed coal mining, reclamation, and related operations for the Northfield Mine. The mining and reclamation plans described below have been designed to effect compliance with the coal regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and Colorado Surface Mining Reclamation Act, Article 33 of Title 34, as amended, Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973. The operation and reclamation plans presented herein have been developed to reflect and address site specific conditions at the Northfield Mine. As applicable to discussion of operation and reclamation plans, environmental baseline information presented in Section 2.04, Environmental Resources, is referenced. 2.05.2 Operation Plan - Estimated Area for Life of Operation Production Methods and Equipment The proposed operations at the Northfield Mine will utilize room and pillar mining methods to extract coal from a single seam known in this area as the Ocean Wave seam. There are no economically mineable coal seams near the surface within the proposed permit area, and no surface mining will be conducted during the life of this operation. Access to the Ocean Wave seam will be established by development of a slope and ventilation shafts to the coal through the overlying sedimentary rock in an area on the east side of the permit area near Chandler Creek. Once the development work is completed to the coal, production will begin with typical coal mining equipment including continuous miners, electric shuttle cars, roof bolters, feeder breakers, and various utility vehicles. Major equipment anticipated to be utilized at the operations, both underground and on the surface, is described later in Section 2.05.3. Coal extracted at the mining face will be transported from the working sections of the mine to the surface by a series of belt conveyors. Mine plans have been developed to maximize coal recovery while maintaining compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. Development of the reserves will proceed by mining a main entry system from the portal area towards the western area of the reserve block. Submain entry systems will be mined to the north and south 2.05 -1 Revised 12/04/09, TR -01