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

All development and retreat mining activities involve essentially the
same methods and production equipment. It should be noted that the
planned mining methods do not entail the use of any type of
explosives. Small quantities of explosive may be used only occasionally
to loosen or break rock where necessary to increase opening heights
or to facilitate removal of oversize rocks in a working area.
Development and retreat mining will be accomplished with electrically
powered continuous miners which utilize a horizontally mounted
rotating cutting head to shear coal from the advancing coal face. The
cutting head is mounted on a hydraulic boom which allows the
operator to raise and lower the head to shear the full vertical height of
the seam.
Coal sheared by the continuous miner is picked up and conveyed
through an on -board conveyor. The coal discharges from the rear of
the machine into two or three electrically powered shuttle cars that will
make alternating trips from the miner to the feeder breaker. The
feeder breaker is stationary and contains a chain conveyor and single -
roll breaker allowing it to both meter the flow rate and size of the
material as it loads onto the conveyor belt. Belt conveyors in each
section, which are periodically advanced as mining progresses, carry
the broken coal to either submain or main conveyors which in turn
transport the coal to the surface.
Development mining in a working section will involve cutting coal from
multiple working faces to advance the entries and crosscuts. As coal is
removed in any area of the mine it will be necessary from both safety
and. compliance standpoints to install designed roof control materials to
support overlying strata. Typically the continuous miner will advance a
20 feet wide opening approximately 20 to 40 feet before moving to
another working face. A roof bolting machine then enters the newly cut
opening to install roof bolts to support and strengthen the mine roof
strata. The bolts are installed into holes drilled by the bolting machine,
and will typically be placed on five foot maximum centers with bolt
lengths ranging from four to six feet as necessary to control the
immediate roof strata. All roof bolting measures and materials utilized
for ground control will be included in the Roof Control Plan approved
by MSHA.
Ventilation of all mine openings will be provided with the progressive
advance of mine entries and crosscuts. The ventilation structures and
materials to be installed include stoppings, brattice cloth, and
overcasts as necessary to maintain a consistent volume of fresh air at
the working faces. Air movement in the mine begins at the main mine
fan located on the surface. Northfield plans to use a large axial type
2.05.3 -6 Revised 12/04/09, TR -01