The answers from EAO on Ajax mine public forums

Following is the full text of the written response I received via Ministry of Environment public affairs officer Trish Rorison on the public forums planned for Ajax mine.

 

Why will there be no town hall or public forum as part of the environmental assessment process?

·         There will be town hall sessions, but they will be held at a different time than the February 6 and 7 sessions.

·         The EAO has directed KGHM to develop town hall style sessions which will allow the people of Kamloops and stakeholders to ask questions of the panellists. These will be conducted by KGHM, as part of the environmental assessment process.

·         We understand the concerns and sensitivities, that’s why EAO has built in a number of extra measures to communicate and connect to the public and stakeholders on this proposal. This public consultation process is more exhaustive than any other EA project in the Province.

·         Other Public comment/input options:

Two-day, 16 hour public engagement sessions on Feb. 6 & 7 from noon to 8 pm each day at the Kamloops Convention Centre including over 20 representatives from the Environmental Assessment Office, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and technical representatives from KGHM.   These representatives will be available to talk with people about their concerns and to answer questions about the environmental assessment process and the proposed project.  All issues and responses will be tracked and made available on EAO’s website.
Two-month public comment period from Jan. 11 – March 12 where members of the public can provide comment online at http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/forms/Ajax_form.html.
Proposed development of Community Advisory Group to provide a continued voice and local perspective on the environmental assessment of the proposed Ajax Mine.
o   EAO has ordered KGHM to develop a Community Consultation Plan which will include a public engagement strategy and a series of public meetings/ forums where concerned citizens can ask questions about the proposed mine.  A key element of this plan will also be a strategy to allow increased access to project related information.

·         It’s important to remember the EAO and CEAA are conducting an independent review of this project and have no position whatsoever for or against it. The role of these neutral agencies is to gather information re: environmental, social, heritage, economic and health impacts of the project as well as any cumulative impacts from other developments in the area.  The public comments and input are very important to help define the types of issues that should be addressed by the Proponent.

·         We want and need the public input and encourage all methods we’ve provided to be used.

What are the security issues around such a format that were referred to in previous meetings between Environmental Assessment Office/ Canadian Environmental assessment agency and KAPA?

·         A two-day engagement session – which is over and above the standard 4-hour session for similar projects – demonstrates that we are very confident that there is no risk to anyone regarding safety.

·         However, any public event runs the risk of safety to the people attending and this one is no different.

·         It’s true, there have been issues in the past in other areas of the province with some events which involved minor incidents.  We have learned that the best approach for the public to learn the facts and have their questions heard is to provide a variety of options and opportunities, including public forums and more technical sessions, such as the ones on February 6 and 7.