  We analyze high resolution spectroscopic observations of the optical
afterglow of GRB050730, obtained with UVES@VLT about hours after the GRB
trigger. The spectrum shows that the ISM of the GRB host galaxy at z = 3.967 is
complex, with at least five components contributing to the main absorption
system. We detect strong CII*, SiII*, OI* and FeII* fine structure absorption
lines associated to the second and third component. For the first three
components we derive information on the relative distance from the site of the
GRB explosion. Component 1, which has the highest redshift, does not present
any fine structure nor low ionization lines; it only shows very high ionization
features, such as CIV and OVI, suggesting that this component is very close to
the GRB site. From the analysis of low and high ionization lines and fine
structure lines, we find evidences that the distance of component 2 from the
site of the GRB explosion is 10-100 times smaller than that of component 3. We
evaluated the mean metallicity of the z=3.967 system obtaining values about
0.01 of the solar metallicity or less. However, this should not be taken as
representative of the circumburst medium, since the main contribution to the
hydrogen column density comes from the outer regions of the galaxy while that
of the other elements presumably comes from the ISM closer to the GRB site.
Furthermore, difficulties in evaluating dust depletion correction can modify
significantly these values. The mean [C/Fe] ratio agrees well with that
expected by single star-formation event models. Interestingly the [C/Fe] of
component 2 is smaller than that of component 3, in agreement with GRB dust
destruction scenarios, if component 2 is closer than component 3 to the GRB
site.
