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wesr Erk es;,~ <br />,* 2.05 Application for Permit for Surface or Underground Mining <br />Activities <br />2.05.1 Objectives <br />This section is an overview of the underground coal mining operation and the associated surface <br />operation MCC plans to continue using at West Elk Mine. The Life of the mine may be about 40 <br />years, depending upon the financial viability of the operation. <br />2.05.2 Operation Plan -Estimated Area for Life of Operation <br />West Elk Mine has been producing coal since 1982. Before 1990, coal was produced from the F <br />Seam using the room and pillar method. 1n 1990, MCC accessed the B Seam and began <br />developing longwall panels suitable for modern longwall mining equipment. At projected <br />production levels, currently active B Seam reserve areas will be depleted in about 2008. In <br />2004, MCC initiated work to develop and produce coal from a third coal seam (E Seam) <br />using longwall mining methods. <br />Mine Layont <br />The extent of the F Seam mine workings of West Elk Mine are shown on Map 50. The mined <br />and projected B Seam mine workings are sho~t-n on Map 52. The current E Seam mine plan <br />is shown on Map 51. The F Seam portals and principal surface facilities are located in Section <br />16 of Township 13S, Range 90W, 6m P.M. <br />MCC developed the F Seam by driving a series of main entries from the point where the seam <br />outcrops. A total of nine main intakes and seven main returns were driven. The main entries <br />were driven southwest to avoid an area along the margin of Sylvester Gulch of predicted poor <br />hydrologic and geologic mining conditions, Submains were developed east and west from the <br />main entries. From these submain entries, room and pillar panels were developed. <br />MCC accesses the B Seam via two slopes and a ventilation shaft driven from the main intakes of <br />the existing F Seam workings (Figure 16), Access to B Seam is also provided by ventilation <br />shafts constructed in Sylvester Gulch. One of the slopes firm F Seam is a haulage entry for men <br />and materials and an intake airway. The second slope entry contains a 60.inch conveyor belt. <br />Both slopes are approximately 2,450 feet long with a 14 percent grade. The haulage entry is <br />about 18 feet wide by 11 feet high. The slope entry with the conveyor belt is 14 feet wide by 9 <br />feet high. <br />A 400-foot long by 18-foot diameter ventilation raise connects the $ Seam return air entries with <br />the return air entries of the F Seam. The intake shaft in Sylvester Gulch provides a primary <br />escapeway from and ventilation to the B Seam. This intake shaft contains a mine hoist for <br />transporting men and light materials. The ventilation shaft is a two-compartment <br /> <br />1.O~1 Reuitedh°mmnder 10gAPRll; Rev..llmdrlOLK <br />