Study to probe Ajax’s impact on city’s image
A member of Kamloops’ Community Advisory Group (CAG) on the proposed Ajax mine said the group is planning to act together even after its role in the environmental-assessment process ends.
Tony Brummel said it’s still not clear how long the group will be meeting and giving input on the assessment process.
“We will be sticking together as a group and we will be doing whatever we need to do, officially or otherwise, in regards to that application,” he said.
The group — whose meetings are closed to reporters — met on Tuesday, Oct. 2, for what environmental-assessment office (EAO) project direction Scott Bailey described as an update for about 20 members.
Over the summer, the group examined proponent KGHM Ajax’s responses to 1,400 issues raised during a public-comment period last winter.
“Those 1,400 issues, the proponent is required to respond to each one of them, and the CAG helped us determine whether or not the proponent’s answers are adequate,” Bailey said.
The EAO is still working on a list of application information requirements — information Ajax proponents will have to supply through studies.
Bailey said the community group will likely meet at least once more before that list is complete, though the next meeting date isn’t set.
Brummel said the group also heard from the firm that will be conducting a socio-economic study on the mine, an area he feels the community advisory group has done much to raise public concerns.
Brummel said the group was told the study will look at Kamloops’ public image and the mine’s potential to impact it, effects Ajax could have on air transport and “the subliminal impact from nuisance emissions like dust and noise.”
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