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<br />December 4, 1989 <br /> <br />~~C~~V~~ <br />DEC 71389 <br />Mr. Fred Banta <br />Mined Land Reclamation Division MINED LAND <br />215 Centennial Building RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, CO <br />80202 <br />Re: Letter of Protest, Battle Mountain Gold, Permit Application. <br />Dear Mr. Banta: <br />I am writing this letter to you with regards to the permit <br />application for Battle Mountain Gold, and request a formal hearing in <br />San Luis on this matter. <br />My concerns in this matter stem from the following observations I <br />have made about the operations this company has initiated at their San <br />Luis Project. <br />1. For the past several years the town has evolved a plan for <br />economic improvement using the arts. In the past year two new <br />restaurants, and two inns have opened up catering to artists and art <br />lovers from throughout the state. A major sculpture project on t:he <br />mesa promises to lure pilgrims and art lovers from throughout the <br />country. Workshops, in-service trainings with local artisans, major <br />press coverage have all resulted from this effort. An operation such as <br />an open pit mine is incompatible with the longer-term development the <br />community has chosen. Operations on the mine site are clearly visible <br />from both the mesa and the road into town, as well as from the school <br />yard. Artists typically enjoy beauty, Battle Mountain Gold offers none, <br />and detracts significantly from the beauty oP the area <br />2. A beautiful wetland weaves through the property. Already <br />it has been scarred, filled and bridged over for new roads. I cannot <br />understand how Battle Mountain Gold proposes to mine, relocate a road <br />closer to this wetland, blast and dewater without destroying this <br />precious habitat. There are beaver, and waterfowl. <br />3. The Valley is rich in wildlife, and many birds cross the land <br />in annual migrations. Tailings ponds are not conducive to healthy <br />waterfowl I do not understand how Battle Mountain Gold proposes to <br />protect these birds from poisons. <br />4. The Valley is very dry, and dust blows freely across lands <br />without vegetation. I think that dust from the ponds, roads and mine <br />site will blow and add to the problems already extant. <br />5. I do not think that the people in the Valley know the extent <br />of the operations envisioned by the Company, the dangers to their water <br />supply and to the scenic beauty they have quietly enjoyed for all these <br />years. <br />