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

• Permit No: C1984065
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 7/11/2012
• Section_Exhibit Name: 4.3 Operation Plan - Permit Area
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

surface facilities are complete. Initial mining will be at the
very western area of the property where only two sublevels will be
used. Mining of these two sub levels will allow the testing of
equipment, training of surface and subsurface personnel, and
determination of such factors as distance between sublevels, caving
characteristics, etc., to be used in the detailed mine design. The
resC of the first panel will t>e developed using factors obtained
from the first two sublevels.
As stated above, early development will be done without fluming,
awaiting completion of dewatering facilities. Experience at the
Weststar Ltd.-Balmer Mine has clearly shown the cost benefits of
fluming the coal are as great as monitor mining itself. Therefore
the mine design will optimize the use of flumes.
After study of advancing systems versus a full-retreating system
the later was found to offer the best economics despite the need
for more initial development. Approximately ten years production
lies above portal entries and can be flumed to the dewatering
station on the surface.
Development coal will be transported by truck to an existing
general loading facility near Lacy, Colorado, operated by the
Denver Rio Grande Railroad. A :>pecial unit train load out facility
will be constructed on NCIG-owned property at a later date. This
facility will be covered by a :subsequent permit period.
In the early stapes of development emphasis will be placed on
completion of the panels and sub-levels to the west where the
initial production operations are planned. Development operations
will also be ongoing in the east main mine as a considerable amount
of development work will be required to bring this portion of the
mine into production readiness. As development continues to the
east, the Wheeler seam splits into the Wheeler and Lower Wheeler.
The intervening rock between the seams will be cut to provide cross
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NCIG - Coal Ridge #1 4-14 ABCj1145/910509 •