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WATER USERS AND CES MEET <br />WITH EPA AND GOVERNOR <br />ROMER <br />On October 15, members of the Costilla County <br />Conservancy District and the CES met with officials <br />of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and <br />Governor Romer. Among those in attendance at the <br />meetings were Maclovio Martinez (President of the <br />Conservancy District), Charlie Quintana (Water <br />Commissioner), Joe Gallegos (Dltchrider for San Luis <br />Peoples Ditch), Charlie Jaquez (of the Costilla <br />County Economic Development CounciQ, and <br />George Valdez (County Commissioner). <br />The purpose for the meetings was to clarify local <br />opposition to the BMG project and voice concerns in <br />key areas of impact: dewatering of the mine pits, <br />toxicity and security of cyanide leaching facilities, <br />heavy metal contamination, flaws in the reclamation <br />plan, air and water quality, and damage to the <br />National Historic District and Centennial Farms of <br />San Luis. <br />Those present were unanimous in opposing the <br />BMG project and asked for federal intervention <br />based on BMG violations of the National <br />Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), section 404 of the <br />Clean Water Act, and other state and federal laws. <br />The EPA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(USFWS) agreed that the potential for serious <br />problems exists but the absence of a direct Yederal <br />triggering mechanism' meant immediate EPA <br />involvement at this point is limited to assisting local <br />residents in monitoring the situation for violations of <br />air and water quality standards. However, the EPA <br />and USFWS also agreed to conduct site visits <br />involving intensive research and monitoring. EPA <br />officials present also agreed that the National <br />Historic District and Centennial Farms may warrant <br />protection under Title One, Sections 101 and 102 of <br />NEPA, as has been long argued by the CES. <br />The meeting with the Governor was brief. Again, <br />those present voiced unity in opposition to BMG and <br />asked the Governor to intervene directly. Dr. Devon <br />Pena, present as a consultant to the Conservancy <br />District, asked the Governor to reform the Mined <br />Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) by appointing <br />environmentalists and other concerned citizens and <br />by bringing the state regulatory agency under <br />compliance with NEPA. The Governor stated that <br />the community had made a 180 degree turn in <br />public opinion and that he had never promoted the <br />mine. He agreed to look further into the situation but <br />was firm in arguing that local control and decision- <br />making was the best way for dealing with mining <br />regulation. <br />We would like to express thanks to all the <br />courageous local leaders that attended the meetings. <br />And we are particularly grateful to Commissioner <br />Valdez for taking the lead as one of the first local <br />elected officials to voice major concerns about the <br />mine. His example should serve as a model for <br />others to emulate. <br />If anyone is interested in attending training <br />sessions with the EPA on air and water quality <br />standards please call Maria Valdez at 6723678 or <br />Devon Pena at 672-3883. The CES is organizing, <br />with assistance from the EPA, a monitoring and <br />compliance plan which will be pivotal in our <br />continued efforts to shut-down the BMG project <br />should it prevail in Alamosa District Water Court this <br />coming November 2630. <br />CHRONOLOGY OF STRUGGLE <br />AGAINST BATTLE MOUNTAIN <br />GOLD <br />1975 -Previous history of E;I Plomo Mine: Earth <br />Sciences, Inc. conducted cyar~ide leach operations <br />and on April 6, 1975, a cyanide spill into the Rito <br />Seco Creek occurred; another spill occurred on April <br />16; fish kills resulted; May, 1~f75 -Colo. Dept. of <br />Health Issues Cease & Desist Order; October, 1975 - <br />Environmental Protection Age icy Issues Cease & <br />Desist Order; November, 1975 - ESI discontinues <br />mining operations; October, i 979 -Colo. Dept. of <br />Health Issued Cease and Desist & Cleanup Order <br />and Notice of Violation of Previous Order; October, <br />1979 -EPA prevails in U.S. vs. Earth Sciences, Inc.; <br />March, 1989 - -cyanide leach pad is still not cleaned <br />up nor reclaimed. <br />• Oct 1987 -Battle Mountain Gold Co. Leases EI <br />Plomo Mine Tract from Earth Sciences, Inc., BMG <br />also purchased 3200 acres for the project. <br />(Please see Chronology next page 1 <br />