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These mines are located on the geology map, Figure 3, of this document. A71 of these mines are hydrogeologically adjacent to the Twentymile Park synclinal ground water basin and hydrologically adjacent to the Trout Creek surface drainage basin. Therefore, the assessment of the ground water impacts of all anticipated mining within the general area will include all of these mines. Meadows No. 2, Grassy Gap, Seneca II W, Hayden Gulch, Empire Energy and the Trapper Mines are included in the surface water general area and are not hydrologically adjacent with respect to the ground water system. The following discussion of ground water impacts is divided into two parts; 1) a brief assessment of the probable hydrologic consequences of existing mines in the general area, other than Foidel Creek, and 2) the cumulative impacts of all anticipated mining in the general area, including the Foidel Creek Mine. An Assessment of Other Mines in the General Area Apex No. 2 Underground Mine The Apex No. 2 underground coal mine was mining coal from the seams of the lower coal group within the Iles Formation of the Mesaverde Group (see Figures 3 and 4). This mine is a drift mine which enters the Pinnacle coal seam at its outcrop on the steep western valley wall of Trout Creek. Mining is downdip of the outcrop and away from Trout Creek. According to the Apex No. 2 permit application and site observations, mine inflows encountered, to date, have been small and are usually associated with faults. The mine has not encountered enough water to require discharge from their sediment pond and the mine must import water to conduct its mining operation. The inflow water, approximately 0.01 cfs, is used within the mine for fire protection and cooling. The only regional bedrock aquifer near the mine is the Tow Creek sandstone, a series of stratigraphically lower and discontinuous lenticular and interbedded sandstones associated with the Lower Coal Group. The Tow Creek sandstone will not be impacted by the mining operation. The quantity and quality of water discharging from springs associated with the overlying discontinuous sandstone aquifers may be impacted to a limited extent. The Apex No. 2 Mine will not cumulatively impact any rock aquifers associated with the other mines in the general area since this mine is the only mine in the Lower Coal Group. The surface facilities for the Apex No. 2 Mine are located in and on the alluvium of Trout Creek. This area was used by previous operators as a disposal site for mine development wastes. No additional disposal of wastes are proposed on the Trout Creek alluvium, Currently this mine is in temporary cessation. Edna Mine The Edna Mine is a surface strip mine along the eastern dip slope of Trout Creek. The Lennox and Wadge coal seams of the Middle Coal Group are mined. Activities at the mine are degrading the quality of the water in the Trout Creek alluvial aquifer (McWhorter, et al „ 1979). Previously mined spoils have become saturated and are discharging degraded water to the Trout Creek -50-