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a great amount of dust. This will affect air puallty for the mammals and birds, as well as increase the siltation of the stream. Battle Mountain also plans to relocate some roads closer to the steam. This action will surely increase the siltation into the Rito Seco. The erosion pa;_terns in this area are very significant at this time, with the sparse vegetation maintaining a fragile hold on the powdery topsoi I. Any further disruption of the area will increase the chances for erosion, which are already evident in the numerous gullies along the strearti. This wlll affErct the - water quality of the Rito Seco and could have a negative effect .in the ~- -". .aquatic life of the stream, specifically but not limited to the fish species.-<---,; r .- . Battle Mountain states that no endangered species of mammals or fish _ .: __=- _. inhabit the Rito Seco area, but I would like to assure them that .all _ wildlife is precious and their habitats must be protected for everyone so that this generation and those to come will be able to enjoy wil~jlife in a - natural setting. My third concern is the serious threat to the wildlife of the Ftito Seco area 1n regards to the use of cyanide in open, water filled pads. This may be acost-effective process for gold removal, but I feel that projecting our environment, wildlife, and the Rito Seco stream ecology is of more _ . immediate importance than "cost-effective mining". Water is the most basic need of ail life. Cyanide poisoning i~ a real and ominous danger to the whole environment. How does the company plan to control the wildlife from using the pads for drinking water? This includes birds of all species that may use the area. In reviewing the Battle Mountain plan, I do not feel confident that the leach pads are protected from dumping their contents into the R to Seco Creek, possibly causing a major kill of fish and all aquatic life. ,any spill from the leach pads caused by an unforeseen rain could result in the total destruction of the ecology of the Rito Seco. Placing the leach pad facilities in the flood plain only invites catastrophe. What plan; are in place to protect the environment in regards to the handling of the cyanide? Will acids be stored on site? Could deadly cyanide ga° be formed by unforeseen or careless use of these deadly chemicals'' In bad weather could a transportation accident release these chemical; on the roads leading to the mine, causing a disastrous spill into the environment? I find nowhere in the Battle Mountain plan (Section H or Aquatic Biological Survey appendix) where they clearly define how they plan to protect this mountain ecology from their intrusion. Their statements concerning fish species seem to reflect an acknowledgment that no --