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a~~~_c(~ <br />b Ctaforado ValleK Courier *-page 5 ; <br />~trgu on environm~r~t _ <br />Saco Creek kilBng the fish, and the <br />Colorado Ikpartm nt of Health and <br />the EPA issued a ease and Desist <br />lhdN in 1975 For cy Nde spills. <br />Five years la r, a significant <br />amount of cyanide es still entering <br />the Vito Seco. Ea Sciences paid a <br />;14,000 fine, and th$ mine shut down, <br />but they never reglaimed the land, <br />Jaquezsaid. <br />!te conctended that "sumps" or <br />reservoirs of the oltl leach pad were <br />300feet away and still over[Iooded the <br />Bito Seco, plus the wetland area was <br />heavily damaged by Earth Scences. <br />Jaquez claimed BaWe Mountain is <br />pushing soil into an area that is illegal <br />for them to touch, in addition to <br />having water eroded Into the <br />wetlands. <br />CFS members contend that the land <br />is keing sUipped as they blast rock <br />from Ne mountairS to use on heap <br />leach pads. It is evident That <br />vegetation has grown on the old leach <br />pads and wildlife U cks fan be seen. <br />The water is leak gyp from the <br />group causing the animals to con- <br />same the hazardorYS chemical thus <br />endangering lives duripg hunting <br />season, since it is edible ¢ame. <br />Battle Mountain .hart proposed <br />moving the county Coat} to the other <br />side of the river so the public would <br />net be bothered by mittetf; opOratinas <br />when using the road. CES believes <br />this will do more damage to the creek <br />and its fish. <br />-Other issues raised were: <br />• CES wants a delay on the mining <br />operation until the process is proven <br />to be safe, the preservation of state <br />water, examine mine's impact <br />concerning traditlonal and current <br />water rights, moving of heap leach <br />pads out of the flood plain. According <br />to Dodson, Battle Mountain refuses to <br />change the site but claims, "We will <br />not damage the Rifo Seco, there is no <br />enough damage to warrant mintors." <br />CES proposed hiring core engineers <br />to monitor and make sure the-area <br />does not gst damaged. They agree <br />that it is best to establish a test pit in <br />preserving state water, and it is best <br />to insure that the water and wildlife of <br />the Rito Seco remains undamaged. <br />Dodson said, "an augmentation <br />plan with the state is underway to <br />purchase water rights from residents <br />in San Acadb end Mesita." <br />Gallegos again addrasswl <br />primary coticMn of water h <br />and monitoring of the oper~tt,- <br />Stafing, "be cadtious of the w~M <br />reclamation. It means to restore toita <br />natural habitat, but thing! !viii e!t <br />remain the same. Every projel±t is <br />different, mate sure it doesn't leak <br />~,e.e <br />the law ad <br />Ilig the dosed <br />[main in the <br />and Dodsm <br />purify water: <br />distillation, column purifikatlon, end <br />reverse osmosis. <br />Pacheco expressed cantkAMfoF the <br />degree of toxicity Inc de and <br />stated, "the potential fo tienger Is . <br />there, if the people handli 1Yare not <br />properly Vained." <br />.• <br />Battle Mountain health ;: <br />representative Jeff Thatc r said he ;: <br />was "not aware o[ st dies that' <br />cyanide has long term heZardous ,. <br />We do not know •~ nlc and <br />nonchroni~effecfb;Dutik most <br />eommonlyy0adchemical theU.S." <br />Donna Koch refutCvtl his c ea <br />questioning him;abo~t, <br />prove certain levels oY <br />cause goitersinhumans. <br />San Luis Mayor Jce ~ ended : - <br />the meeting with a coat tion that : - <br />cooperatipn between Batt) MOUn18tn <br />andCES[community~,ao tp .~ <br />be an advantagous <br />.area by getting jobs. <br />., . <br />young people. , .titer . <br />+~ . <br /> <br />