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

• Permit No: C2006085
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 5/7/2010
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05 Operation and Reclamation Plans
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

0 2 05.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area
Production Methods and Equipment
The proposed Northfield Mine is located in an area of gently sloping
sedimentary deposits which are overlain by sandstone bluffs and
surficial colluvial /alluvial materials. All of the surrounding sedimentary
formations have been tilted by the nearby Wet Mountain uplift which
produced a westerly dip in the strata within the permit area. At least
six coal seams of significance exist in this area although only the
Ocean Wave seam has been identified as being economically
recoverable under current market conditions. Previous mining has
occurred in several of the seams in and adjacent to the proposed
permit area. Apart from the Ocean Wave, the other seams are of
limited extent or are too thin to be mined. A detailed geologic
description of the proposed permit and adjacent areas is presented in
Section 2.04.6, Geology Description.
Northfield's estimated annual coal production will be approximately
400,000 tons per year for the initial and subsequent permit terms. The
actual annual production will depend on contracts yet to be obtained
for the anticipated high BTU coal product. Most of the coal will be
supplied to industrial customers requiring a 2 x 0 inch size product,
and additional sales are anticipated for a sized stoker coal product. The
mine will operate on a two -shift per day, five day per week production
schedule on a year round basis to achieve the projected annual
production. A third shift per day will allow time for equipment
maintenance as well as mine maintenance and necessary underground
construction activities in the active working areas.
The proposed room and pillar mining methods at Northfield will utilize
modern mining equipment including continuous miners, shuttle cars,
roof bolters, power centers, and feeder breakers. Each specific area in
the mine where the equipment is located and producing coal is called a
working section. A working section generally requires at least one of
each of the above described pieces of equipment to operate, with the
exception of shuttle cars. Two shuttle cars are utilized to haul coal in a
section, and in some instances a third shuttle car can be operated in
the mining cycle. Additional mobile equipment will be utilized for
support including maintenance, personnel transport, and clean -up of
mine areas. Northfield anticipates starting mine operations with
sufficient equipment necessary to run one section, and subsequently
adding equipment to operate a second section, though some pieces of
equipment may not need to be duplicated since they can be moved
and utilized in both sections. A complete list of underground
equipment, showing the machines required to run two separate mining
2.05.3 -1 Revised 12/04/09, TR -01