On the eve of first production at its Cortez gold mine in Nevada, Barrick Gold Corp. is proposing ways to curb its environmental impact…Barrick…filed a motion in a Nevada court this week hoping to influence an upcoming ruling on the mine…Local native and environmental groups oppose the mine and sought an injunction, which was turned down by a Nevada district court last year. The groups appealed and a California court ruling called for a closer look at the mine's environmental footprint…"It's a political fight, it's a environmental fight, it's a spiritual fight," said Larson Bill, of the Western Shoshone Defense Project, one of the groups opposing the mine. Barrick said the court needs to consider the impact on jobs and the local economy if the mine is halted.