‘We’ve listened’ says KGHM International as it moves waste facilities south of original plan

NEWS/ AJAX — Ajax — at least part of it — is moving south.

KGJM International announced today (Thursday) a new site plan that will see some of the mine’s facilities moved south of their originally proposed location, reducing “potential disturbance from industrial activity.”

Key changes include scrapping a dry stack tailings storage location west of Inks Lake and instead constructing a wet tailings pond on farmland to the south that includes all of Goose Lake.

The open-pit mine remains in the original location.

“This new general arrangement represents an important adjustment to the Ajax Project,” the company said in a press release. “The changes address community comments about the proximity of the proposed mine to city neighbourhoods and other public infrastructure while preserving the economic viability of the project.”

Changes include a redesign of the tailings storage facility from the previously proposed dry stack tailings storage to “more proven” wet tailings technology. The tailings will be located closer to mine operations and farther away from the Coquihalla Highway, the company says.

Waste rock storage facility, the ore processing plant, primary crusher and temporary ore stockpiles will also be moved. “These sites, formerly situated inside City of Kamloops limits, will now be located more than 3.5 kilometres from the nearest city neighbourhoods and outside municipal boundaries.”

A new brochure entitled “We’ve listened” outlines the changes and says the company “took all of the comments, concerns and suggestions provided by the community at town hall forums, face-to-face small group community sessions and through our website to heart.”

It says the new tailings location, in a grasslands valley south and southwest of Jacko Lake currently used for ranching, “takes advantage of the unique nature of the local terrain and topography.” A map in the brochure appears to show an area that includes the home of Sharon and Richard Antoniak, who told the Armchair Mayor News earlier this week they reluctantly sold their property to KGHM, and part of the Little Ranch.

The brochure says the north rock storage facility, mine processing plant and ore stockpiles will now be more than two km south from the locations first proposed. “The sites will now be more than four kilometres from Aberdeen and Pineview Valley.”

The primary crusher will also move south of the pit, “3.5 km from the closest city neighbourhood.

“The new plan clusters mine activities to the south and east of the pit. We believe bringing key facilities closer together will reduce emissions and dust.”