KGHM asked at open house about Peterson Creek, viewscapes
Elaine Sedgman doing Ajax ‘performance art.’
By MICHELE YOUNG
Changes to the proposed Ajax gold and copper mine could devastate the Peterson Creek watershed, or improve it, depending on which side of the project you talk to.
On Wednesday, the question of the creek’s watershed was put to opponents and proponents, both gathered at the Coast Kamloops Hotel on Hugh Allen Drive, for the afternoon Ajax public open house hosted by KGHM International.
Outside, there were questions, protest signs and costumes.
Inside, there were partial answers, maps and business cards.
Dianne Kerr, who worked at mines in Timmins, Ont., Baie Vert, Nfld., and Asbestos, Que., stood with about 15 other opponents outside the hotel, then went in to ask questions, mostly about the impact of the recently revised mine site layout.
“The changes move the project almost entirely into the Peterson Creek watershed,” said the former City councillor.
Dust and airborne particles are also a worry.
“A lot of people are unaware the changes don’t alter the health risks.”
Kerr also questioned the company’s comments from a year ago talking about a new ore deposit being discovered, which was used as an explanation for the footprint revision.
“No one is saying anything about that. Where is the new ore deposit?” she said.
Wednesday marked the second of three open house sessions held by KGHM International on its proposed Ajax mine south of Kamloops. The first two were held at the Coast Kamloops Hotel; the third is slated for Thursday at the Knutsford Hall from 6 to 9 p.m.
Elaine Sedgman waved a sign on the side of Hugh Allan Drive dressed in an oversized suit and tie, despite the heat, along with a drama mask and a pit-mine model that made the front of her pants jut out.
She called herself Mr. Pitbelly and said her costume was her performance art. Air quality is a concern for her, and she doesn’t believe that the wind won’t blow mine dust throughout the city.
“I’ve lived in Knutsford for 11 years. I know which way the wind blows,” she said.
Those who don’t believe the mind dust will be a problem should visit Highland Valley Copper, she said. She has, and it’s convinced her all the more that Ajax is too close to town.
“The air is all going to move. It’s like a big ocean.”
Inside, KGHM International environmental manager Kate Parsons said Peterson Creek will be better protected, as it’s going to be diverted by covered pipe around the northern edge of the mine pit. The cover will mean less dust getting into the water.
Before it can be diverted, however, it has to be studied to ensure there aren’t any fish affected.
Currently, the creek travels along what would be the southern edge of the proposed mine pit. Parsons said the natural slope is low, which means the water moves slowly through that area. Maintaining that grade while moving the creek was difficult, which is why the four kilometres of diversion pipe seemed like a good option, she said.
There has been exploration of the area for more ore bodies, but nothing that would change the shape or location of the pit has been fruitful, said Parsons.
Tourism Kamloops executive director Lee Morris had questions of her own that she wanted answers to; they were about how the revised plan would impact the vistas, especially from the Coquihalla Highway.
While the revision was better than the original, she wanted more perspective on what it would look like.
Tourism Kamloops is mostly looking at the project in terms of viewscapes and lake accesses, said Morris, who did get some answers by the time she was done.
“They clearly have listened and made some adaptations,” she said. However, there are still some areas where more information is needed.
Coun. Arjun Singh said the information is fluid until the application is finally submitted. He’s received 30 or 40 emails calling for a lobby to have health assessments done as part of the application process.
Singh said council has agreed to invite a representative from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office to address questions at a public meeting this summer.
About 135 people attended Tuesday night’s session, and 90 were counted at the two-thirds mark of Wednesday’s open house.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Why does the new map show but not label a pump house, required to replace or relocate the Peterson creek outlet from the lake? how does pumping water up and out of the lake improve anything? and why was the pump house not labelled on the map.? avoiding questions?
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I was at Tuesday’s open house and questioned the Ajax staff about why dry tailings were initially proposed as being better than wet tailings and why the reverse is now stated. I was told that it depends upon local conditions and that for Kamloops, wet tailings are better. KGHM says that Abacus proposed the dry tailings pile and since taking over a year and a half ago, KGHM has more financial resources to do better analysis and to make decisions that, although might cost more money, give more consideration to the community such as moving the tailings away from highway visibility. There was also a concern about pile stability and risk to the highway. This risk was stated to be very small but the staff member was unable to provide numbers. (Actually, he offered a couple of numbers but they didn’t balance and he didn’t sound confident about them.) A senior staff member then joined the conversation and summed it up by saying that wet tailings have been in use in BC for decades and are a proven technology; KGHM chose to change the Abacus plan for dry tailings.
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“Those who don’t believe the mind dust will be a problem should visit Highland Valley Copper.”
“Mind Dust”, is that what we’re being fed when we ask questions ?
Less water, the same, more water. Three different answers to the same question by experts that I was referred to.
It is still too close! The air shed is too full when inversions happen. Why?
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Funny. Last time I attended an open house I was reassured that the dry stack tailings were the best new technology and would use less water and have a smaller footprint, and that Peterson Creek would be fine.
Is it any wonder that no one wants to talk to the company any more.
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Curious that Peterson Creek ended on the KGHM ‘engineered’ model at the city boundaries. When asked why that was, as we know the Creek flows right through the city, I was told it was because the Creek goes underground! Perhaps the model maker had never seen the entry of the Creek into the Thompson River near Pioneer Park?…or perhaps it was thought best not to show where the diverted water would end up? On such an obviously expensive model I would surmise that the makers were very careful to follow instructions?
S.Abraham
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If Ajax gets ever built, Kamloops will become more and more just a pit stop.
A drive-thru rather than a destination. A place you rather leave than coming to.
Every other city in the world with excessive industrialization has already shown us the dreadful legacy associated with that excess.
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“KGHM International environmental manager Kate Parsons said Peterson Creek will be better protected, as it’s going to be diverted by covered pipe around the northern edge of the mine pit. The cover will mean less dust getting into the water.”
How do you divert a watershed into a covered pipe? Peterson Creek, like any other creek or river the world over, “collects” water from its watershed. If you do not protect the watershed it matters none if you put the creek itself into a section of pipe.
What do you think , Mel?
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I agree with your statement Lyman. Good trick if you can do it.
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