2010-08-06_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (2)

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West Elk Mine A 72 -inch belt conveyor carries coal from the storage silos to the over - the -track train loadout. This conveyor has a capacity of 6,000 tons per hour and runs at a speed of 850 feet per minute. Total length is approximately 600 feet. The conveyor is covered by a semi- circular corrugated galvanized metal cover. The portion of the conveyor that crosses the North Fork of the Gunnison River and State Highway 133 is completely enclosed. Primary and secondary walkways were constructed along the conveyor. The conveyor structure is steel. ROM Stack Tubes, Underground Conveyor Reclaim System, and Crushers Construction of three stack tubes and an underground conveyor reclaim system was begun during 1991 and became operational in July of 1992. The approximately 100,000 to 120,000 tons of run -of -mine coal storage provided by these tubes is needed to handle the higher longwall production volumes. The storage area was expanded by moving a portion of the main topsoil stockpile to the south, creating an additional 60,000 to 88,000 tons of coal storage area. Run -of -mine coal is fed directly to these tubes. Bulldozers push the coal into the hoppers feeding the underground reclaim system and into the crusher. The stacking tube facility consists of three stacking tubes ranging in height from 91 to 94 feet and constructed of reinforced concrete. On top of each stack tube is a transfer structure. The transfer structures are approximately 38 feet tall, open steel structures. The facility also includes a 60 -foot tall feed conveyor drive tower and a 42 -foot high crusher building. Both of these are open steel structures. An as -built construction description is provided in Exhibit 68. Screening Facility Construction of a screening facility was begun in 1992 and became operational in February of 1993. The facility is used to separate over -sized material (typically consisting of rock) from the product -sized coal. The screening facility consists of an open steel structure with a maximum height of 84 feet and three associated conveyors. A 1,500 tons per hour high -angle conveyor transfers material to the screening plant from the crusher, product -sized coal is transported to the silo conveyor belt on a 1,500 tons per hour conveyor and a 300 tons per hour high -angle conveyor transports over -sized material to the rotary breaker. An as -built construction description is provided in Exhibit 68. Coal Preparation Plant and Associated Coal Handling Facilities After mining began in the E -Seam of the West Elk Mine, geologic conditions proved to be more variable than anticipated. Seam thickness deviation and sandstone intrusions into the coal seam caused higher than expected levels of ash in the run -of -mine coal. As a result, MCC constructed a coal preparation plant and associated coal handling facilities to reduce the ash levels and increase the heat content of its coal product in order to meet its current coal supply obligations on a consistent basis. The Coal Preparation Plant ( "the Plant) is located on the existing LRP mine bench. The Plant building is steel -sided and completely encloses the washing and coal handling equipment. The Plant separates the ROM coal material into salable coal products and coal refuse. The salable 2.05 -43 Rev. 11104, 03106, 04106 & 05/06- PRIO; 08109- TRIM; 08109- TR119; 09109 - MR357