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mining will be shown on Map 3 Mine Plan and submitted to the Division for <br />• approval as a permit revision prior to beginning production. The next five years of <br />mining will be shown by year based on 500,000 tons the first year increasing by up to <br />3 million tons per year there after. Future 5-year increments will be blocked out by <br />five-year period. Production rates are dependent on demand and may be adjusted to <br />economic conditions in the coal industry. <br />Mine development is projected to advance east and south of the existing mine <br />workings. Two sets of mains will be advanced to the east of the existing workings to <br />the outer most extent of economically recoverable coal. Production panels will be <br />developed from these mains by the Room and Pillar method of mining. Longwall <br />mining is not anticipated. <br />Continued development and operation of the New Elk mine will require two or more <br />additional 5 year permit terms to complete full recovery of the coal reserve. Minor <br />additional surface disturbance may be associated with the continued operation of the <br />mine. This surface disturbance, if required, will provide for ventilation and <br />escapeways as development progresses away from the main portal area to maintain <br />continued production and safe working conditions. In the event additional <br />disturbance is required, NECC will submit this information to the Division as a <br />Permit Revision. <br />All existing surface facilities will be needed throughout the remaining life of the <br />• mine. Thus reclamation of these areas will not commence until the mine is closed. <br />2.05.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area <br />The developed underground workings are shown on Map 3 and Map 22. The <br />stratigraphy of the Allen Seam mining area is shown on Figure I Generalized <br />Stratigraphic Section of the Permit Area. The operation plan is dependent on the <br />successful reentry, ventilation, and rehabilitation of existing underground and surface <br />facilities. The mine was temporarily closed and sealed in 1989. Dewatering ceased <br />and the lower areas of the mine were gradually flooded. <br />Phase I of resuming operations required remotely pumping mine water from the East <br />Portal airshaft and other boreholes using surface powered pumps. Approvals for this <br />process were granted in 2008 and dewatering started in December of 2008. Phase II <br />reestablishes mine ventilation by breaching temporary seals at the East and West <br />Portals and Apache Canyon and reinstallation of fans at the East Portal and West <br />Portal airshafts. Phase III is the reentry into the mine and repairs to underground <br />infrastructure. Conditions determined during Phase III will enable NECC to develop <br />and submit a mine plan to the Division detailing the lateral extent of mining, <br />production levels, and impacts from mining. This will be submitted to the Division as <br />a Permit Revision for review and approval prior to commencing mining. <br />U <br />TR-50 Page 2.05-3 Revised 3/28/09