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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />2.05 OPERATION AND RECLAMATION PLANS <br />2.05.1 Objectives <br />The planned operations and reclamation will be similar to those presented in Volume 1, Section 2.05. <br />Operational changes and information specific to the Little Collom X and Collom Lite pits within the <br />Collom mining area are described in the following sections of this permit revision application. <br />2.05.2 Operation Plan - Estimated Area for Life of Operation <br />The entire mining extent of disturbance for the Collom mining area will be permitted for the life of the <br />operation. Other information regarding the permit term is delineated in Section 2.01.5. Information for <br />the operation plan is delineated in Section 2.05.3. Likewise, for purposes of this application, the permit <br />area identifies the area for the life of the mine (years 2012 through 2033). The anticipated progression of <br />mining over the mine life is presented on Map 23B. <br />Colowyo will employ detailed and current engineering designs for all surface mining activities in order to <br />maximize coal recovery. The open pit mining technique minimizes or eliminates coal rib losses and coal <br />fenders. The mining operations described in Section 2.05.3 are designed for maximum coal recovery. <br />2.05.3 (1) Operation Plan — Production Methods <br />Colowyo has selected its mining procedures on the basis of information from numerous exploration drill <br />holes which penetrated the overburden, the interburden, and the coal seams. Each phase of mining has <br />been carefully scheduled so that all equipment can be operated in situations suitable to their design <br />capabilities. The overall operation plan is designed to flow logically from topsoil removal through <br />reclamation. The plan is designed to maximize coal recovery and minimize environmental disturbances. <br />Colowyo's existing operation plan is described in detail within Volume 1, Section 2.05.3. <br />The locations of the areas to be mined are shown on the Mine Plan — Collom Map (Map 23B). Topsoil <br />removal schedules and stockpile locations are delineated on the Topsoil Handling — Collom Map, (Map <br />28C). The amounts of topsoil to be removed and replaced are included in Table 2.04.9 -16, Topsoil Mass <br />Balance — Collom Mine Area. Topsoil will be removed from an area primarily during the summer and <br />fall months to allow for one year of mining advance. A buffer zone, with topsoil removed, will be left <br />between the undisturbed area and the crest of the pit. Additional information on topsoil handling is <br />presented in Section 2.05.3 (5). <br />The area to be mined within the Collom Lite pit covers an area of two long ridge lines at about 7900 feet <br />in elevation which is bisected by a 100 to 200 feet deep valley formed by the stream channel of Little <br />Collom Gulch. Ultimately the Collom Lite pit will cover 880 acres and will be 600 feet deep in places. <br />Seams to be mined in the Collom Lite pit include the Y, X, A, B, C, E, F, and G. The lowermost seam <br />planned for development is the Gab. As shown on the geologic cross - sections presented in Figure 2.04.6, <br />all of the coal seams to be mined are dipping at approximately 8 percent to the northeast. Cross section <br />locations are shown on Map 11 B. <br />Coul production from the Collom Lite pit will build from about 1.2 million tons in 2012 up to about 5.1 <br />million tons in 2016 and will remain fairly constant thereafter. A total ovez•burden/interburden volume of <br />498,381,818 bank cubic yards (bey) and coal tonnage of 79,110,000 tons estim,.ted to be generated and <br />produced, respecti rely, from the Collom bite pit. Overall strip ratio for he Collom Lite pit is <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 91 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />