Ajax input, info sessions scheduled
NEWS/ AJAX — The public will get a second chance to comment on environmental assessment guidelines for the proposed Ajax mine, and to go to school on the process itself.
The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office has announced a public comment period from Nov. 18 to Dec. 18 during which input can be submitted online, by email or fax, or by mail to the EAO or Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
Information sessions will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25 and 26 at the Kamloops Coast Hotel and Conference Centre.
An announcement from the EAO says the new public comment period invites input “on revisions to the environmental assessment information requirements that result from changes to the mine plan for the Ajax mine project.”
It says Application Information Requirements/ Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines — also known as AIR/ EIS Guidelines — have been changed to reflect KGHM Ajax’s changes to layout and design of the project.
The workshops will cover such questions as “What happens in an environmental assessment?”, “How can the public participate?”, and “What happens after an environmental assessment?”
The EAO says the public will be able to speak with staff from both the provincial and federal environmental assessment agencies. “There will also be opportunities to listen to presentations and ask questions.”
There will be three workshops each day, at 3 p.m. 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., with participation on a first-come first-served basis.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about environmental assessments,” the B.C. EAO’s notice states. “While the workshops will focus on the general environmental assessment process, anyone interested in getting information or asking questions about the proposed Ajax project will be welcome to go down the hall to the Ballroom, where additional government staff and KGHM Ajax Inc. representatives will be happy to discuss the details of that particular project and its environmental assessment.”
The comment period and workshops come after a testy exchange between City council with the EAO a few weeks ago about the need for more public information on the process for approving the mine proposal and on changes to the footprint.
Here is the link to the EAO’s notice on the public comment period and the information workshops.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Should anyone have any comments to submit to the EAO, whether for or against, they may do it here. Just click on “form” near the Ajax link
http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/index.html
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I would prefer that KGHM not be present at these workshops. I mean, what are they going to add? It would nice if the EAO could bring in some truly independent experts, people who have never been on KGHM’s payroll. In fact, it would have been nice to have a town hall style meeting with such experts to answer questions. Why has this not been done? As it stands, if someone want to know what the biggest risks and drawbacks of a tailing pond are, they will be directed to KGHM folks down the hall.
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Yes…that is a major problem with the process. I want to talk to the government and the regulators, not the company reps. I don’t want to be patted on the head and told that the company is “listening”. I think the lack of independence of the EAO in public consultation is a major flaw in this review.
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The last KGHM answers to ?s at the hotel and the Knutsford hall to; how much water will be used at the (new) south location were More, The Same, & Less.
These were from their people, that I was told by their people, would have the answers. Three (3) days of wasted effort and time.
Will this be more, the same or less a waste of our time?
Come on KGHM; tell us where in the world are you mining now, like you would have to mine here, to have your Social Licence approved here?
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Will this never end!!!!
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