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APPENDIX II-B-2 <br /> COAL BASIN OPERATIONS <br /> 1956-1987 <br /> 1 . The Mines. <br /> The Coal Basin operations of Mid-Continent began with construction of facilities in <br /> 1953. Production began in 1956. <br /> The Dutch Creek No. 1 Mine, opened In 1956. <br /> The L. S. Wood No. 2 Mine, opened In 1973. <br /> The L. S. Wood No. 3 Mine, opened in 1966. <br /> The Bear Creek No. 4 Mine, opened In 1969. <br /> The Coal Basin No. 5 Mine, opened In 1973. <br /> Two seams of coal are mined at Coal Basin. The B-bed, mined from the Entries of <br /> No. 1, 3, 4 and 5; and the Middle-bed, mined from No. 2. The Middle-bed lies 450 <br /> feet above the B-bed. <br /> 2. Construction - Portals and Haul Roads. <br /> All the mines were developed as drift mines, which follow the coal from outcrop, <br /> downdip. Mine portals were built directly at the coal seam outcrop. Following a <br /> common practice for western U.S. mines, the entry was excavated by a cut above <br /> the coal seam. Material from the excavation was used as a fill, creating a mine <br /> bench on which surface facilities were then constructed. <br /> A system of haul roads were developed, connecting the portals, at 10,000' <br /> elevation, with the central complex yard area, at 8,000' elevation. Development of <br /> the haul road system was a difficult task due to rugged, mountainous topography, <br /> steep slopes, severe erosion problems, potentially unstable slopes and high <br /> avalanche danger. <br /> 1 <br />