Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

2010-2011 AEMR2.0 Operations During theReporting Period2.1 ExplorationSurface exploration throughout the reporting periodconsisted of a total of 318 boreholes atapproximately 31,700 meters drilled. Explorationdrilling occurred were drilled in the followingareas; 233 x boreholes within A444 with a total of14,100 m drilled; 48 x boreholes within CL743 with a total of13,500 m drilled; 33 x boreholes within CL397 with a total of2,900 m drilled; and 4 x boreholes within EL7211 with a total of1,200 m drilled.Drilling is required to further define coal reserves,coal quantity and gas content of the Whybrow,Redbank Creek, Wambo and Whynot coal seams.All exploration boreholes were fully grouted uponcompletion.It is expected that exploration activities over thecoming twelve months will continue within A444,CL397, CCL743 and EL7211. WCPL is anticipatingdrilling approximately 180 boreholes (approximately50,000 m) during the next reporting period. A444was renewed during the reporting period inconjunction with United. EL7211 is planned forrenewal during next reporting period.2.2 Land PreparationIn accordance with the Open Cut MOP and DA 305-2003, all land clearing at WCPL is carried out underapproved management plans and procedures. Onesuch approved management plan is the Flora andFauna Management Plan (FFMP), which includes aVegetation Clearance Protocol (Figure 2.1). Inaccordance with the FFMP, a Surface DisturbancePermit (SDP) procedure and checklist has beendeveloped. The SDP requires the approval ofWCPL’s environmental department prior to anyclearing activities taking place. The SDP aims toidentify any environmental issues such as CulturalHeritage sites, flora and fauna communities, surfacedrainage, threatened species, and the identificationof any seed or timber resources that can besalvaged.management and salvage of timber resources,dependent on the characteristics of the vegetationto be cleared, and is determined on a case by casebasis.Nominally, a minimum of 100 millimetres (mm) oftopsoil is recovered from the surface prior to miningan area. The actual volume of topsoil recovered isdependent on the depth of insitu soil conditions (e.g.deeper in alluvial areas and shallower on ridgelines), and the quality of the material.Where possible, direct placement of stripped topsoilonto re-profiled areas is preferred to stockpiling, inorder to avoid rehandling and reduce the potentialfor further topsoil degradation or loss. However, dueto lack of available area, this was not possibleduring this reporting period. If a re-profiled surface isnot available, the topsoil is stockpiled. Thetreatment of the topsoil stockpiles is dependent onthe planned timeframe between construction anduse. If these stockpiles are to be left for longer thanthree months, they are generally shaped intoelongated mounds and seeded with pasture to keepthe soil fertile, stop weeds from growing and toreduce soil loss.Due to a change in dump plan for the RL 160 dump,approximately 14.2ha of previously rehabilitatedland was re-disturbed during the reporting period.The topsoil and established pasture vegetation wasrecovered from the re-disturbed area prior todumping.2.3 ConstructionCoal Handling Preparation PlantMajor works included the construction of a new 500tonne reject bin at the CHPP, which commenced atthe end of the reporting period. At the end of thereporting period, WCPL had completed the bulkearthworks including the drainage and accessroads. In addition, the main concrete slab and guidewalls were also completed for the new reject bin.The new reject bin is expected to be operational bythe end of 2011.In addition to the FFMP, WCPL have developed aTimber Management Plan (TMP). The TMP hasidentified a number of options regarding thePage 18