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1 <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The Mined Land Reclamation Division (MLRD) permit application and <br />associated documents are being submitted by Battle Mountain Resources, Inc. <br />(Battle Mountain) for the San Luis Project located approximately five miles <br />northeast of the town of San Luis on the lower western slopes of the Sangre de <br />Cristo Mountain Range. The project area is hilly, ranging in elevation from <br />approximately 8,360-ft above mean sea level (msl) to 9,650-ft msl. <br />The primary land uses in the area are rangeland and wildlife habitat. <br />The area has a history of mining activities. A cultural resource survey was <br />conducted by the Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. No <br />listings were found within or adjacent to the project area. Appendix A contains <br />the results of this survey. <br />The San Luis Project, as proposed, will consist of two adjacent open-pit <br />mines, a heap leach facility, and a milling facility with associated tailings <br />disposal far the recovery of gold and silver. The project is located on 2,200 <br />acres of land owned or controlled by Battle Mountain. A Costilla County road <br />crosses the mine property. The county road will be relocated prior to <br />' commencement of mining activities to ensure continued access to the areas east <br />of the project site. <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br />The project will encompass the currently existing disturbance from the E1 <br />Plomo Mine, MLRD File No. M-79-05]HR. The existing disturbance will either be <br />incorporated into disturbance related to the San Luis Project or reclaimed. <br />Figure C-1 shows the existing disturbance and .proposed future disturbance. <br />As currently anticipated, the mining operation will result in the removal <br />of approximately 13 million tons of ore over a 7-10 year period, at a rate of <br />5,000 tons per day (tpd), although actual mining rates will be dei.ermined by a <br />number of economic and operating factors. Mining will occur in two open pits <br />located north of the Rito Seco in the eastern portion of the property. The East <br />Pit is the smaller of the two pits and will encompass approximately 20 acres. <br />The West Pit will encompass approximately 110 acres. For details of the mining <br />operation, see Section D.2. <br />i <br /> <br />