just out on ajax December 14, 2017 - 2:10 PM
KAMLOOPS - The long-awaited decision on the proposed gold and copper mine near Kamloops is here — and it appears it's not happening.
The Environment and Energy ministries have decided not to issue an environmental assessment certificate to KGHM Ajax for the project.
A 1,700-hectare open-pit gold and copper mine was proposed, approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Kamloops.
According to a news release from the provincial government, the ministers concluded that taken as a whole, the potential and significant adverse effects of the Ajax project outweighed potential benefits.
The provincial government says in the release that it considered the Environmental Assessment Office's summary assessment report, along with their joint federal study with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, and the recommendation by the executive director of the Environmental Assessment Office not to issue a certificate.
Also considered were submissions from the Stk'emlupsemc te Secwpemc nation and the City of Kamloops. City council made their opposition to the project known earlier this year.
According to the release, the ministers noted key findings from the environmental assessment including adverse effects in areas like air quality and human well-being, on Jacko Lake and the surrounding area, social and economic value components, along with grasslands and ecosystems.
The environmental assessment office also concluded that several adverse effects were of moderate- to high-magnitude. There were also concerns surrounding significant adverse effects to Indigenous heritage and to the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes.
"Given these conclusions and the close proximity of Ajax to the City of Kamloops, particularly the neighbourhood of Aberdeen, including an elementary school, the ministers concluded the adverse effects would not likely be mitigated to an acceptable level and would therefore present an unacceptable risk," the release states.
For the seven-page list of reasons given by the ministers, go here.
For the latest on the proposed Ajax Mine, go here.
— This story was updated at 2:27 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017 to include more information about the Ministers's decision on the Ajax mine.
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