1989-12-01_REVISION - M1988112 (3)

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contaminated water will flow into the sptliway in case of fictud (section E.2.4 "some reservoir routing or temporary storage in the tailings disposal area will occur following this event"). Are we tt~e people of San Luis to Sust quietly accept this spill of contaminated water? Will the members of the MLRB be able to guarantee the citizens of San Luis that no damage will occur' Co the environment, no pollution will be released to the ground water, or that no health danger will exist? On page E-9, l also protest the fact that Battle Mountain Gold has proposed to fold the containment pond liner and be allowed to bury it. If this liner contains any traces cyanide ar in any way poses a environmental hazard, it should be disposed of properly. The mine site is not a waste disposal site, and the MLRB should not allow mining companies to use it as such. In Exhibit H, Battle Mountain Gold fails to identify tt~e threat that large, open, contaminated, cyanide water-filled containment ponds will pose to migratory birds. !demand that the MLRB require flagging of all ponds to ensure ttrat no ducks or geese land on the ponds. The populations of these bird species have been greatly reduced because of drought conditions throughout the United States, and the loss of even one bird would be unacceptable. 1 am also greatly concerned that if the mining site is not replanted with native species of trees and shrubs, the large open grass area will 6e a open threat to the wildlife species which depend on graziny. Elk will be drawn to tt~e area for feeding purposes. This will be an artificial environment. It will expose them to increased hunting and poaching pressure. It will disturb their normal feeding patterns. if cyanide contaminated water ur feed is introduced into their focPd chain, what effects will this have on future generations of wildlife? In Section K of the amended plan, Battle Mountain Gold refers to precipitation/temperature figures from the years 1891-19?_3. l question why current meteorological figures were not used to estimate rainfall and evaporation rates for the Rito Seco mine slte. Current data concerning temperature averages and rainfall rates have been documented for the San Luis area for the years 1979-1989. The United States Weather Service also maintains current, up-to-date meteorological infarmation. San Luis and the Rito Seco are a unique micro-climate, and data