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<br />p~Ce__nin~ <br />two remaining commons in the United States, the other is Boston <br />Commons. The Vega includes wetlands that could be severely <br />impacted by the st:+-•*~ilc+ radius cone of depression associated with <br />BMR's dewatering walls. <br />__ !:~) iwo ."Centennial Farms" are in the San Luis NHD~ the <br />F'ra::edis Ortega and Corpus A. Gallegos Ranches bath farms have <br />been under continuous ownership and operation by the same families <br />for over one hundred years, Both farms rely on Rito .SQCO foc some <br />vf.the water that goes.into the San Luis Peoples Ditch, the oldest <br />adjudicated water rights in the State of Colorado. Other local. <br />irrigation diccnes also receive water from Rito Seco. The water <br />rights for these "Centennia! Farma" may be damaged by the BMR <br />project due to impacts of dewaterinq or possible contamination by <br />cyanide gr heavy metals. <br />Second, is the fact that Castilla County is the only county <br />in Colcrado without public lands (i.e., USFS, BLM lands, etc.). <br />The only public park in the county situated in a montane ecosystem <br />is the Rito Seco County Park, located within one quarter mile of <br />the BMR east pit. The BMR project will severely limit and disrupt <br />public use of and accesa to R1to Seco County Perk. Residents <br />already complain that the eighty-ton earth movers and other heavy <br />equipment make driving to the park hazardous. <br />How will the BMF: San Luis Project impact on these unique <br />re5ources^ In the case of the San Luis NHD the impacts will be <br />bath short and long-twrm. The Costilla County Economic Development <br />Council is currently planning and implamentinQ a long-range <br />econom+c .developrt:ent re=Query based on a sound mix of low impact <br />*e~~rism, an arts and crafts revival, bed and breakfast inns, art <br />galleries, nature recre.~tian, and sustainable agrlLUlturo. <br />These plans era _irectly joapardlzed by the BMR Ssn Luis <br />F'rolect. While the BMR project say produce !short-term employment <br />and ta;: gains, after ciosura of the operations the.reeultinq scars <br />anq to::ic caste sites will devalue the attractiveness of the Ban <br />Luis area as a destination far tourists and nature enthusiasts. <br />The 6MK project i zn short, completely incompatible with plans <br />far an economic recovery based on the natural and culural ~-esourees <br />o+ the region. <br />Many tourists have indicated that they will not return to San <br />I_us~ if the 6Mf: strip-mine and cyanide lewch mill aporatione qo <br />iorw~rd z.: planned. kegardless of Safety and health reasaurancen, <br />tourist; ;av they come to San Luis to Qet away frog urban- <br />industri~~l environments in eoarch of a morn pastoral settlnp. The <br />mining opertitian represents a clear and real throat to the natural <br />and ru)tur•al landscapes which make San Luis a viable tourist <br />destinat.ir::n, ~~his will impact on long-term economic devolopmont <br />{ilan~; and uiiportunicir±s, <br /> <br />