The site of the proposed Ajax Mine.
Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
February 24, 2017 - 4:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - A decision is coming from one of the groups involved in the proposed Ajax Mine assessment process.
The Stk'emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation has reached a decision, which will be announced March 4 at a community event according to a release, but there’s no word on what that decision will be. A spokesperson for the group said it will be an official decision.
It appears the decision will precede the restart of the provincial and federal governments’ environmental assessment, which the First Nations group is a part of. Currently a technical working group is reviewing information from KGHM Ajax and will restart the assessment once enough information is collected.
KGHM Ajax is likely at least a couple weeks away from submitting all the necessary information to the environmental assessment offices. The provincial and federal agencies would then decide when to restart the official timeline. The City of Kamloops is waiting for the restart of the official timeline before making a decsion.
Part of what is needed for the assessment to restart is a draft of a First Nations consultation report. While what the group has decided will be taken into account by the environmental assessment offices, the final say lies with provincial and federal minsters.
The band says a news release is planned for next week to provide more information.
The Stk'emlupsemc te Secwepemc represents the Skeetchestn and Tk’emplups bands. They have an ongoing land title claim over land the mine would be located on, including Jacko Lake.
The proposed copper and gold mine would be located directly adjacent to the city's southwest border. It's been under temporary suspension since May 4 last year.
Find past stories on the proposed Ajax mine here.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017