2012-07-11_PERMIT FILE - C1984065 (2)

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S~~ 4.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area • 9.3.1 Production Methods and Equipment III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 999 Prior to the actual development of coal, site preparation, rock tunnel development, and temporary dewatering system construction are required. The mine has been opened by footwall adits with the portals on the north flank of the Hogback. Portal location is near the fanglomerate contact near the center of the NEl/9 section 6, T6S, R90W, at an elevation of 5850 feet. Two parallel 1500 foot long rock tunnels will be driven on 60-ft centers at an ascending grade of 3 degrees. The two tunnels will be parallel for approximately half the distance (750 feet), then incline of the intake tunnel will be increased to 5 degrees in order to have a vertical separation of the two tunnels where they intercept the coal seam. The manway, supply, utilities, and flume tunnels will be driven 9 ft high and 19 ft wide. Both will be • arched and timbered as necessary. (A similar adit driven at the New Castle-Vulcan Mine, through the Wheeler to tt~e Allen Seam in 1956 reported only occasional roof support was required). These tunnels will be driven to intersect the Wheeler and Lower i~~heeler seams. At present, the rock tunnels (Portals 1 and 2) have been extended 790 and 680 feet, respectively, into the hogback. From the point of co31 intersection, entries referred to henceforth as panels, will be driven both west to develop the first production panel and east to develop future production panels (Figure 9.3-1). Although development work using the flume system is cheaper, NCIG has decided to develop the west entries with diesel equipment while the surface facilities are being constructed. Coal production from the early development phase will allow test shipments to prospec- tive customers. Hydraulic mining will commence as soon as the • NCIG - Coal Ridge #1 4-13 ABC/1145/910509 T~2- 7