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and pillar and the longwall methods . All coal is transported <br /> from the mining section to the surface via belt conveyors and <br /> placed in temporary storage bins of up to 1, 000 tons capacity <br /> near the present mine portals . Men and materials are transported <br /> into and out of the mines via slope hoists and/or self propelled <br /> mantrip vehicles . Each mine is ventilated by a separate venti- <br /> lating system, and each mining section is ventilated with a <br /> separate split of air. Roof control is accomplished principally <br /> with roof bolts and packwalls; however other means including <br /> posts , cribs and arches are used . In pillar sections and longwall <br /> panels the roof is allowed to cave after mining. <br /> The run-of-mine coal is transported from the mine <br /> portal bins to the preparation plant in off-highway diesel powered <br /> trucks . When the tunnel is completed the trucks will be eliminated <br /> and all coal transportation will be by belt conveyor . Each of <br /> the mines is located approximately 4 miles from the preparation <br /> plant . At the preparation plant, rock and refuse materials are <br /> removed from the coal by gravity separation methods and froth <br /> flotation. After cleaning, the coal is thermally dried and <br /> placed in clean coal storage bins from whence it is transported <br /> approximately 22 miles to the unit train loadout station at <br /> Carbondale by semi-truck trailers . Rock and refuse materials <br /> removed from the coal at the preparation plant are conveyed to a <br /> refuse pile situated in Coal Basin near the preparation plant . <br /> k <br />