2011-03-21_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (11)

Home Browse Search

RULE 2 - PERMITS 2.05.2 Operation Plan — Estimated Area for Life of Operation This section describes the general mine operation, production methods, mine sequencing and surface disturbances associated with the portal area and related surface facilities for the PSCM underground coal mine. The information presented in these sections provides a basis for the understanding and evaluation of potential mining - related impacts and development of appropriate plans for conservation of resources and control or mitigation of mining- related impacts. The operations plan presented herein describes an initial startup phase which develops into a steady -state coal mining operation with a full buildup of facilities /structures. As a stand -alone permit application, this section addresses development, mining, and reclamation of any related surface disturbance achievement of the postmining land uses consistent with the existing land uses and provides for mitigation of potential mining- related impacts as required by Section 4.01.1. Surface disturbance at the PSCM will be limited to an excavated face -up area for the underground portal access, related facilities including soil and coal stockpiles, one million gallon water tank, maintenance facilities, coal handling facilities, roads and parking areas, drainage and sediment control structures, and related ancillary facilities. As the mine expands, additional ventilation and dewatering installations may be needed, resulting in additional minor disturbance for any new facilities. Any required new facilities will be addressed by future revisions to the permit. Continuous miners will develop the mine and extract the coal. Continuous miners will be used to extend the main entries and sub - entries and develop sections during the initial permit term. Any future full -scale mining would be permitted separately as a revision to the permit. Map 2.05.2 -M1, Life of Mine Map, shows the anticipated initial five (5) year and future mining blocks. Production Methods and Equipment Historical mining operations in this area include the adjacent Seneca II Mine on the east and Yoast Mine to the west. Both were surface mines that mined the near- surface coal, and which have subsequently been reclaimed. The PSCM permit area partially overlaps portions of the Seneca II mine. PSCM's portal area and underground workings will begin adjacent to the final Seneca II Mine highwall, in an area of undisturbed bedrock and coal. A more detailed description of historic surface mining activities is included in Section 2.04.3, Site Description and Land Use. The PSCM proposes to underground mine the underground portion of the Wadge coal seam lying between the Seneca II and Yoast surface mines in order to maximize recovery of the coal resource. The proposed PSCM underground mine is in an area that is uneconomic for surface mining methods due to the depth and dip of the coal seam. The PSCM will disturb a total of approximately 276 acres for the portal facilities and access road out of a permit area containing approximately 10,164 acres more or less. If mining conditions prove favorable, and mining operations continue, surface disturbance areas and the associated facilities will continue to be utilized for the ongoing operations and will be reclaimed when no longer needed to support ongoing or future operations. The Wadge coal seam in the proposed mine area lies in a syncline. The average dip of the coal is approximately 9.7 degrees to the west, and the strike of the seam is approximately north - south. The main entries are projected to transect the dip of the Wadge seam to allow the continuous miner sections be driven roughly on strike. The sections are oriented so that water drains to the west. A more detailed description of the geology is included in Sections 2.04.5 and 2.04.6. PSCM Permit App. 2.05 -3 Revision 12/17/09