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water resources that would pertain to the West Fork of Terror Creek on BLM lands. Since <br />completion of the original Spruce Stomp EA, the Colorado Department of Public Health and <br />Environment (CDPHE) have updated its classification of waters. The waters of the Terror Creek <br />drainage are classified on BLM administered lands as Aquatic Life Cold 1, Recreation P, Water <br />Supply, Agricultural, and on National Forest System Lands as Aquatic Life Cold 1, Recreation <br />E, Water Supply, and Agricultural (CDPHE-WQCC 2010). The Terror Creek Drainage is <br />tributary to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The North Fork of the Gunnison is rated as <br />impaired for selenium and sediment (CDPHE-WQCC 2008a, 2008b). <br />There are no ground water wells within the proposed CEL area (Colorado Division of Water <br />Resources 2010). <br />Water resources are also summarized in the Land Health Assessment for the North Fork Area <br />(BLM 2007b). Water quality in the project area is identified as meeting the objectives of <br />Standard 5. <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: <br />Proposed Action - The principle potential for impact is accelerated erosion and <br />sedimentation from the areas of surface disturbance. These impacts are well described in the <br />2005 Spruce Stomp EA, and subsequent BAs pertinent to the CEL area (Monarch and Associates <br />2009, BLM 2010c). With implementation of design features included in the Proposed Action, <br />committed mitigation, and mitigation required to protect greenback cutthroat trout, impacts are <br />• expected to be low, and primarily short term. <br />Mitigation: All drill holes must be plugged in accordance with Federal and State <br />regulations. BLM will be notified of any exploration drill-holes that encounter water and are <br />selected to become long-term ground water monitoring wells. <br />Cumulative Impacts - When combined with livestock grazing, off highway vehicle use, <br />timber sales, private land development, and other activities within the Terror Creek watershed, <br />the proposed action is likely to contribute very little to cumulative impacts on water quality <br />within this watershed. <br />No Action Alternative - No surface or ground water quality impacts would occur as a <br />result of coal exploration activities in the Terror Creek watershed. <br />Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for water quality: The proposed action <br />with mitigation would not result in the waters within the CEL area failing to meet Public Land <br />Health Standard 5. <br />WASTES, HAZARDOUS OR SOLID <br />Affected Environment: The potential for hazardous materials to be present on USFS lands <br />is adequately described in the 2005 Spruce Stomp EA. There are no known hazardous materials <br />currently present on BLM lands within the CEL area. With the exception of oil and fuel for <br />heavy equipment, trucks, and the bean pump, there are no hazardous materials proposed for use <br />• during the CEL activities. <br />DOI-BLM-CO-5050-2010- 0017 EA Page 33 of 43 May 2010