‘Kinder Morgan, KGHM working on pipeline’

NEWS — They’re talking about it with each other, but neither KGHM International nor Kinder Morgan is talking publicly so far about where the Trans Mountain pipeline will go if a proposed waste pile and tailings pond are built south of Jacko Lake.

KGHM announced last week a plan to reconfigure its Ajax site plan to put one of its waste rock storage facilities and a conventional tailings pond on ranch land stretching from Jacko Lake and Peterson Creek south through Goose Lake and over Goose Lake Road.

But the redrawn map shows the pipeline in its current location, which runs between Jacko Lake and the open pit, then across Peterson Creek and under the waste rock and the tailings pond.

Prior to last week’s announcement, Kinder Morgan’s own redrawn map had shown the route being moved to skirt Jacko Lake and then rejoin the existing pipeline to the north of Goose Lake Road.

Both KGHM International external affairs manager Yves Lacasse and senior communications strategist Robert Koopmans have declined comment on the pipeline route except to confirm the mining company is in discussions with Kinder Morgan about it.

In reply to an inquiry from The Armchair Mayor News, Trans Mountain senior project director Greg Toth issued the following statement:

“The integrity and safety of our Trans Mountain Pipeline system continues to be our primary priority. We are aware of the recent notification by the Ajax Mine and have been working with them as their mine plans have continued to evolve.

“KGHM is fully aware of the location of the existing pipeline and we will continue to work with KGHM to ensure the safety of the current and proposed pipelines.”