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Kamloops News

Additional public comment period turned down for proposed Ajax Mine

KAMLOOPS - The proposed Ajax Mine will not be getting another public comment period during the current review.

There are no plans for an additional comment period, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office has said following a request from the Community Advisory Group, which represents 14 Kamloops and area groups, asking for another chance for the public to have a say on the proposed mine as more information becomes available.

In a letter of response, Tracy James, the project assessment manager for the province, cites the already 'extensive public input' and current work by the federal and provincial assessment offices with the technical working group as reasons not to hold another comment period. The public comment period, held as part of the application review earlier this year, lasted the maximum allowed days, 75, and collected more than 2,300 comments.

The letter notes documents the advisory group claims are missing are actually included in the application.

"With regard to suggestions in your letter that the application is missing required documents, EAO reviewed the submission by Mr. Watson and notes that the appendices he referenced have been available on our website since the start of the application review," James says, adding she recommends the group reference previous correspondence regarding the application. 

The environmental assessment of the proposed copper and gold mine is currently under a temporary suspension as more data is collected to satisfy the questions and concerns which came out of the comment period.

If approved the open-pit mine will operate immediately southwest of Kamloops for roughly 20 years.


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