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Blasting Procedures <br />Vegetation is cleared from the undisturbed surface and suitable topsoil removed prior to drill <br />bench preparation and drilling overburden. The overburden above the Dakota coal seam <br />consists of poorly cemented sandstone, argillaceous shale, and a calcareous caprock. This <br />overburden will be drilled by a rotary blast -hole drill with pattern hole spacing as indicated <br />above. <br />After the,holes are drilled, they will be loaded with a blasting agent. The powder factor, pounds <br />of explosive per cubic yard of overburden, will vary, but the ground vibration will not exceed 1.0 <br />inch - second at any dwelling past the permit boundary. Priming of the blasting agent shall be <br />accomplished with cast primers. A certified blaster will determine the amount of explosive, <br />decking, delays, and stemming required for each blast hole. <br />Parting drilling and blasting procedures will be performed in the same manner as the <br />overburden, except the drill pattern may be as small as 10'x12', due to the smaller thickness of <br />material to be blasted. Proper delay systems and adequate stemming will insure proper <br />fragmentation, control ground vibration, air shock, and flyrock, and minimize dust generation. <br />The certified blaster in charge of the blasting operation will physically barricade or block all <br />access roads into the blasting area, check the entire blast area for unauthorized persons or <br />livestock, then give instructions to sound the warning signal of an impending blast. After the <br />shot has been fired, the all -clear signal will be given upon instructions from the blaster after the <br />blast site has been inspected for any potential hazards. <br />All drilling, loading, and blasting of drill holes will be performed in accordance with all applicable <br />federal, state, and local laws and ordinances as well as with the Mine Safety and Health Act (30 <br />CFR 77.1300- 77.1304), and all Western Fuels- Colorado safety rules and regulations. <br />Blasting Limitations <br />Air - blast. Electric blasting caps, noiseless NONEL or equivalent detonating equipment, and <br />various delay systems will be utilized to reduce air -blast effects and noise. Air -blast will not <br />exceed the limits in Table 2.05.3(6)(a) -1 at the location of any dwelling, public building, school, <br />Section 2.OS.3(6)(a) Page 6 <br />