In the underground coal-mining industry in the United States, the use of extended cuts has been steadily increasing. From 1988 to 1995, the number of mines approved to mine extended cuts increased by 108% (Bauer, 1998). According to the US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), in 1995, approximately 45% of the producing underground bituminous coal mines had approval to mine extended cuts. Extended cuts are taken during room-and-pillar mining, retreat mining and for longwall gate-road development. The popularity of extended-cut mining assures that mines will continue to request approvals for the use of this coal-extraction system.
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