TUESDAY, May 7, 2013
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
A5
LOCAL NEWS
Ajax: Most queries remain unanswered City submitted list in 2011 By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
It took nearly two years, but Kamloops city council is finally getting answers to a few of the 11 questions it posed to the proponents of the Ajax mine on July 11, 2011. KGHM Ajax has released a copy of a letter it sent to council, which includes information on the diversion of Peterson Creek, blasting at the site, traffic impacts and the mine’s impact on water flows in the Thompson rivers. But, about 75 per cent of the questions — which also concern dust, property values, health impacts and light pollution — are still unanswered, and will stay that way until the company submits its environmental-assessment (EA) review in September. “It is still early in the process,” KGHM’s vicepresident of environment Dan Ferriter told media at a press conference on Friday, May 3. “The thing we have to do in this process is honour the process.” Ferriter said much of the information council has asked for still isn’t available and won’t be until many of the highest-level studies required for the mine’s environmental assessment are complete. While most of the baseline studies for Ajax are complete, the air and water models that draw from that data are still in the works. Those models, too, feed into human health and ecological risk assessment that will answer questions about the effect of dust and emissions on the city, Ferriter said. “And, really, that’s the final piece of the EA.” Ferriter hopes the response, even incomplete, will help satisfy some community and council concerns. “What we’re trying to do is provide some satisfaction. We’re trying to
be transparent,” he said. “The norm would be that you would submit an EA and there would be a public-comment period and then we would sit down and hash it out together. “But, we know the community would like to get as much information as they can prior to that, so that’s what we’re trying to do by answering this letter.” Of the concerns raised by council, Ajax has said three are likely negligible. In its 18-page response, the company said a traffic study it has conducted and will submit to the city shows employee traffic to the mine will have little impact on city infrastructure, though the mine is interested in working with the city on “aspects of improvement to Lac Le June Road.” The company said its transport trucks will use the road briefly, for about 100 metres, before moving to either Inks Lake Road or the Coquihalla Highway. Ferriter said blasting impacts are expected to be minimal. The mine plans to run one blast per day, during daylight hours, and could adjust the size of the blast if slope-stability concerns arose. “What you have to realize with the blasting is we, too, have to build facilities that can withstand the blasts in that area,” he said. “Blasting is something we can definitely control. We can control the size of the blast.” The company also released calculations which it said show the volume of water the mine plans to draw from the Thompson rivers would have minimal impact on fish and wildlife. At the shallowest and widest points of the river, Ajax said in the letter, the mine’s draw would reduce the “wetted width” of the river by nine to 29 centimetres and maximum depth by two to five millimetres.
r e y l Hot F
Yves Lacasse (left), KGHM Ajax’s external-affairs manager, and Dan Ferriter, KGHM’s vice-president of environment, speak to reporters at a press conference on Friday, May 3. Go online to kamloopsthisweek.com to read KGHM Ajax’s letter to the City of Kamloops. Dave Eagles photos/KTW
FEATURES
FRIDAY, MAY 3 – THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013
Safeway Chicken Breast
[web-extra www.kamloopsthisweek.com
Boneless. Skinless Frozen. 4 KG Box
TALITHA’S HOPE FOR A CURE
$
4
Talitha, our granddaughter, has recently been diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), an incurable disease that attacks the heart and lungs. 20 years ago people diagnosed with PH lived 1-2 years.
Sunkist Murcott Mandarins
Sunday, May 5th
$
499
is worldwide Pulmonary Hypertension Day. Please help us to find a cure by donating to this worthwhile cause.
VISIT GOO.GL/YKN01 TO DONATE
$ SALE ON NOW
AMAZING EVENT
40%-70%
SEWING NOTIONS
All stock pkg. notions valued to $12.98ea plus Packaged Tapes, Elastic and OFF Clauss & Bloom Scissors reg. price *Members OFF reg.
50%
PROJECT ORGANIZERS, CRAFT & QUILTING STORAGE CASES & SEWING KITS OFF COTTONS reg. All Stock *Members price
Graphic Florals, Botanica Co-ordinates, Stonework Prints, & VIP Craft Prints *Members
$5.00m- $7.00m BROADCLOTH
DRAPERY PANELS & CREATIONS RODS
50%
m
All Stock *Members
50%
KAMLOOPS Mon. - Wed. & Sat. 9:30a.m.-5:30p.m. Thur. & Fri. 9:30a.m.-9:00p.m. Sunday Noon - 5:00p.m.
price
570g
Campell’s Asst 12 pack soups
BUY 1 GET 1
2121 East Trans Canada Hwy. VALLEYVIEW • 250-374-3360 Fabricland Sewing Club Members Value Hotline 1-866-R-FABRIC 1-866-732-2742 www.fabriclandwest.com
Deli Counter Black Forest Ham
$
1
89 100g
Purex Bath Tissue Double 15 roll
799
$
Buy 2 earn 35 airmiles
SHOP AT BOTH LOCATIONS
OFF reg. price
OUTDOOR FABRICS
BROOKLYN Reg. $5.50m *Members
$2.70
50%
All Stock *Members
1
89
FREE
SEW
Huge selection! *Members
ea.
Ovan Joy Bread
Thank You Don, Sandy & Family
FASHION FABRICS
99
OFF reg. price
WA FOR TCH IN-S OUR SPE TORE CIAL S!
Sahali Store - Sahali Shopping Centre North Shore Store - Fortune Drive We reserve the right to limit sales to retail quantities. Some items may not be available at all stores. All items while stock last. Actual items may vary slightly from illustrations. Some illustrations are serving suggestions only. Advertised prices do not include GST. ™AIRMILES INTERNATIONAL, HOLDINGS N.V., LOYALTY MANAGEMENT GROUP CANADA INC. AUTHORIZED USER.
Visit our website at www.safeway.com