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• <br />November 28, 1989 <br /> <br />D f. C 1 1 1989 <br />Attn: Board of Mined Land Reclamation Bureau M~AJFD ~.4~;D <br />~ECL~,LaAT;Dni OcV1~:D,1 <br />Dear Sirs <br />Please accept this letter as a formal protest against the original and/or <br />amended mining plan submitted by the Battle Mountain Gold Company !BMG). <br />"Costilla, the poorest county in Colorado"; perhaps, if the measurE:ment tool <br />is money. San Luis, as you know, is a community within Costilla County. <br />We, in San Luis, believe that though we have little monetary wealtt., we have <br />an abundance of wealth money cannot buy: aesthetic beauty, clean air, pure <br />water, rich soil, proud people, etc... <br />"San Luis, oldest town in Colorado"; historical aspect! I am an Economic <br />Development Committee Board member, and though I cannot speak for the <br />rest of the board, I feel that this industry goes against all that is <br />happening in our town. Fr. Patrick Valdez' Stations of the Cross, our <br />museum, art galleries, the Bed & Breakfast - all of these are projects <br />being implemented in order that we, the people of San Luis, are enabled to <br />market our God-given talents and share with others the beauty and joy of our <br />quaint town via touristry, an industry far safer than that proposed by BMG. <br />Gary Dodson says that he has held several public meetings to describe plans <br />and answer questions. I have never heard of any such meetings other than <br />the ones that the Soundness Committee has held. And, at that, Mr. Dodson <br />has attended only one! <br />Mr. Dodson said that he would distribute newsletter informing the public <br />of progress updates and specific interest issues. I have yet to see any <br />type of newsletter published by BMG for the citizens of San Luis. <br />Gary Dodson says that a number of people have been through their training <br />programs and are now full-time employees. I ask, how many people have <br />been through these programs? How many of those people are actually working? <br />He said that BMG would bring substantial new employment for the residents. <br />Initially he said that BMG would employ 80 people. Months later he said <br />BMG would employ 70 people and now he says that BMG will employ 40 or 50 <br />people. Everytime he speaks, the numbers decline! <br />Gary says that the project will make major contributions to the local <br />economy and government; he even went so far as to give us numbers. "BMG will <br />buy an estimated $300,000.00 per year in materials, supplies and equipment <br />from our merchants.' How much have they purchased in two (2) years? Is it <br />anywhere close to $600,000.00? Highly unlikely! <br />"The project will enhance local efforts to stumulate tourism". "People love <br />to visit gold mines". I ask, how many of you have taken your vacations to visit <br />a gold mine(s)? Would you ever? <br />"We will not poison the water". "The mine will have no impact on water <br />quality or supply at all". "The project will be a zero discharge facility, using <br />state of the art design and equipment". Our experts show that the project will <br /> <br />