2012-06-20_PERMIT FILE - C1996083A (14)

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Introduction The Bowie No. 2 Mine was constructed and opened by Bowie Resources, LLC during the spring and summer of 1997 with coal production and development beginning on August 15, 1997. The mine began longwall production during November 1999 and currently produces coal at the rate of about 5 million tons per year. Over the course of mining operations for the last 14+ years, there have been three coal mine waste disposal areas located north of Bowie Road. The first pile, gob pile #1 which is discussed in detail in Permit Volume IV, was sized to accept miscellaneous roof fall material and other minor amounts of high ash coal encountered at the mine. There was a second coal mine waste disposal area, gob pile #2, that was designed to handle refuse from the preparation plant along with other miscellaneous high ash coal (TR -30 approved March 23, 2004). The current approved design for gob pile #2 is to have side slopes no steeper than 3h:1v slopes with 15' wide terraces on 50' intervals with the first 50 foot lift sloped no steeper than 2.5h:1 v. During 2007 gob pile #2 was expanded to the west (TR-44 approved March 20, 2007). The expansion of gob pile #2 added about 450,000 cubic yards to the storage capacity. The expansion area is also known as gob pile no. 4. There are a coverfill pile, topsoil stockpile, diversion & collection ditches, and two sediment ponds associated with the disposal areas. The total combined capacity of Gob piles #2 and #4 is approximately 2,000,000 cubic yards. At the time of this writing, in 2012, Gob Pile #2 will be expanded to the west as shown on Figure 1. On the west side of the upper bench, the existing hillside will be steepened in order to allow for more gob storage. The hillside will be graded back at a 1.5h:1 v for approximately 220 feet. West Diversion Ditch #2 will be rerouted to follow the toe of the cut. The steepened area will increase the storage capacity by approximately 65,000 CY. The coal mine waste disposal areas are located, as shown on Figure 1, along the toe of the natural slope and adjacent to the old railroad bed. The Bowie No. 2 Mine did not generate a significant amount of coal mine waste until the preparation plant began operation. The amount of coal mine waste to be generated from the mine and coal preparation plant was expected to average 200,000 cubic yards per year. During the period from June 2004 through 2011 (7.5 years) the coal mine waste generated from the preparation plant averaged 350,000 cubic yards per year. A new section of haul road was constructed along the toe of the fill and is shown on Figure 1. Details of the haul road are presented on Map -16, Volume II. TR -72 -1 - 05/12