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from the main entries, from which panels are mined to access specific <br />areas of the reserve to meet customer quality requirements. Northfield <br />anticipates mining concurrently in at least two separate areas of the <br />reserve during operations in order to produce a blended coal product <br />for the customers. The main entries will be designed with pillar sizes <br />and barrier pillar sizes to provide life -of -mine support to allow safe and <br />productive conditions to maintain production. Details of main, <br />submain, and panel designs are discussed in more detail in Section <br />2.05.3. The planned development mining and pillar extraction methods <br />have been utilized effectively at the nearby Southfield and Twin Pines <br />coal mines, and have been shown to be effective and safe mining <br />methods within the Canon City Coal Field. <br />Northfield's anticipated annual coal production is currently estimated to <br />be approximately 400,000 tons per year for the initial and subsequent <br />permit terms. The actual annual production will be determined prior to <br />commencing mine operations upon securing coal contracts with <br />prospective customers. <br />Operation Description <br />The proposed total permit area for Northfield's operations <br />encompasses approximately 1,174 acres for the anticipated life -of- <br />mine operations, shown on Map 7, Mine Plan. Exploration activities <br />have established that the mineable reserves lie within the north, east <br />and south limits of the proposed permit boundary. Additional coal <br />reserves exist west of the permit boundary, primarily in Section 14, <br />that are currently not available for leasing. Future expansion of the <br />operation and permit boundary to incorporate these reserves is <br />anticipated after the initial permit term. <br />All proposed surface disturbances associated with mine facilities and <br />structures will wholly situate within the proposed permit area. The <br />proposed facility area and ancillary facilities for underground mining <br />are essentially adequate for the planned long -term operations. Surface <br />facilities will be constructed in separate, adjacent areas near the mine <br />portals. The planned facility areas will include the primary facility area <br />encompassing the mine portals and an adjacent ventilation shafts and <br />mine fan facilities. <br />Proposed total disturbance for all facility areas is approximately 20 <br />acres. Since all mining will occur underground, the proposed facilities <br />will service the mine operation with little anticipated future expansion <br />or modification. Descriptions and plans for all mine facilities are <br />described in detail in Section 2.05.3, and are shown on Map 12. <br />2.05-2 Revised 12/04/09, TR -01 <br />