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West Elk Mine <br />i <br />2.05.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area <br />(1) Production Methods and Equipment <br />The production methods and equipment in use at West Elk Mine are described above in Section <br />2.05.2. <br />(2) Operation Description <br />MCC plans to mine two coal seams; the B and E Seams. Longwall mining operations in the B Seam began <br />in 1991 and were discontinued in late 2008. Longwall development in the E Seam was initiated in late <br />2004, and longwall mining of the E Seam began in late 2008. <br />F Seam <br />After mining operations in the B Seam were fully operational, MCC discontinued mining in the F- Seam. <br />Map 50 shows where MCC has mined in the F Seam to date. MCC currently has no plans for further <br />mining of the F Seam. <br />E Seam <br />Mining plans for the E Seam are presented on Map 51. Development mining began in 2004 and longwall <br />mining began in late 2008. A description of E -Seam mining plans is presented in Exhibit 60B and Section <br />2.05.6(6)(e)(i), Subsidence Prediction, 2.05.6(6)(e)(i)(A) Brief Description of Mining Method, South of <br />Divide Mining Area. <br />MCC may, on a temporary basis, transport coal to other coal operations for processing or to provide coal <br />needed to fill trains for other coal operations. If processing requires washing, the resulting refuse will be <br />returned to MCC for disposal. <br />B Seam <br />Mining of the B Seam was discontinued in late 2008 after mining of the E -seam was begun. Map 52 shows <br />the B seam mining that was completed by Mountain Coal Company within the permit area. The map <br />shows the Federal Leases and Fee leases that were mined. <br />Manpower Requirements <br />Existing and projected manpower requirements are shown in Table 32 for the permit term. Projected <br />manpower requirements are based on projected production levels to fulfill existing and anticipated <br />contracted coal sales. These projected requirements are subject to change for various reasons. New <br />contracts may require revisions to the figures. <br />(3) Mine Facilities <br />West Elk. Mine's major surface facilities are located one (1) mile east of the town of Somerset, <br />Colorado, and just south of State Highway 133. Access to the mine is through the F Seam. The <br />2.05 -15 Rev. 06105, 01106, 03106, 04106 & 05106- PRIO. 01109- MR350: 04109- TR116: 04109- MR353: 05109- MR354: 08109- TR118: <br />08109- TR119 <br />