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Paae 3-78 Environmenta/ Ana/vsis February 2000 from the Deertrail Ditch. The Bowie No. 1 and No. 2 mines are essentially dry, and dewatering has not been necessary. As a result, there have not been any impacts to groundwater due to water wnsumption or dewatering activities. Historic mining activities at the King Mine in the drainages below the Bowie No. 2 Mine have apparently impacted the local alluvial groundwater quality. Two mine portals and associated coal fines/waste are located in the A and B/C Gulches. Seepage from these sites has caused high sulfate and other trace constituent levels in groundwater at the down gradient alluvial monitoring wells (AW-1, 3, 4, 5, and 6). No other impacts have been noted in this area. Past and current activities other than mining have affected groundwater quality. Livestock grazing causes minor impacts to springs and seeps due to erosion, sedimentation, and water quality, (i.e. fecal coliform). Unauthorized off-road vehicle use also causes erosion and sedimentation that effect spring areas. Individual domestic water wells and community water wells have had limited impact on groundwater quantity. Rural septic systems may impact local groundwater quality. Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract - Due to the limited amount of groundwater monitoring at the EIk Creek Coat Lease Tract, impacts due to past and current mining activities are difficult to analyze_ The Blue Ribbon Mine, located in Hubbard Creek, has been abandoned and reGaimed. Surface water quality in Hubbard Creek has not been adversely impacted (see Section 3.5, Surface Water Hydrology) as a result of historic Blue Ribbon Mine operations. As a result, it is'not believed that groundwater qualityhas been impacted. Afield survey of the site did not show any mining related impacts to the Hubbard Creek drainage. Mine discharge from the abandoned Oliver Mine (SP-8) and the Hawks Nest Mine (SP-11) is fair to good quality with somewhat elevated levels of TDS, iron, and manganese. These mines are located east of the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract. See Figure 3, Historic Coal Mines and Federal Coal Lease Locations. The active Sanborn Creek Mine has been storing discharge mine water in sumps in the B and C coal seams since 1992. The B and C seams were dry during active mining. Water quality data indicates that the stored mine water meets NPDES effluent limitations with minor treatment to reduce TDS concentrations (Oxbow, 1996). There may be some seepage from the storage sumps down dip in the coal horizon or to adjacent bedrock units; however the quality of the seepage is fair to good, and seepage rates are likely very small. The West Elk Mine, located south of the EIk Creek Coal Lease Tract, operates under an NPDES discharge permit with strict effluent quality standards. There are no known impacts to groundwater quality due to these operations. 3.6.2.6 Groundwater Use Water rights and well records from the Colorado Division of Water Resources were reviewed for the area of the proposed coal lease tracts, exploration license area, and areas extending about 1 mile outside of these boundaries. Sites logted within or west of Hubbard Creek were considered in the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract and Exploration License area. Those east of Hubbard Creek are considered in the Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract area. A summary of the groundwater rights and wells is presented in Table 3.5-3, Water Rights Summary for Wells, Springs and Surface :Hater, (see Section 3.5, Surface Water Hydrology). Locations of the water rights are shown on Figure 78, Water Rights. Iron Point Exploration License Area and Coal Lease Tract -There are five adjudicated water rights associated with springs in the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract and Exploration License area. Four adjudicated water rights are on private surface (J&M Spring and Pipeline 1- 4) and Final Environmental Impact Statement