Letters, Opinions, Editorials

Young Scientists Evaluate Environmental Assessment Process

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 11th, 2017 11:06am

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

Crowd-funding Consultants Issue Report

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 14th, 2016 11:54am

The report from the consultants hired with crowdfunding monies (Gatepost Risk Analysis and Habitat Health Impact Consulting) has been received and submitted to the federal and provincial environmental assessment agencies. 

City's Questions to SLR Consulting

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 14th, 2016 11:52am

SLR is the consultant hired by the City to review the Application. The City gave a list of questions to SLR to be answered during its review. While SLR is performing a comprehensive peer-review, these questions and others posed by the public (collected from the public town hall meeting on September 28th 2015 and through online submissions) form a basis for some of SLR's work. Click here to view the questions.

Crowdfunding Update

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 14th, 2016 11:51am

Here is a quick update as we pass the halfway point in the public comment period for the Ajax mine application.

Ajax Application to be released January 18, 2016

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 4:02am

From newskamloops.com, January 13, 2016:

KGHM Ajax Mining Inc. says it will submit its application and environmental impact statement for the Ajax Mine project on Monday, Jan. 18.

Ajax action needed!

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 4:01am

In December we asked you to send letters to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and other cabinet ministers to indicate your concern with the proposed Ajax mine and expressing an urgent need for a federal panel review.  Mayor Milobar and Councillor Lange have asked for a meeting with Environment Minister Catherine McKenna to request a federal panel review but it seems that McKenna’s office is overwhelmed with requests from people all across the country, and so far no meeting date has been set.

Tailings plan doesn't heed review

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 4:01am

Tailings Plan Doesn’t Heed Review
Mike Youds, News Kamloops, Jan. 8, 2016

Update on Ajax Application deficiencies

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 4:00am

In our previous update, we identified some of the “out of scope” issues that will be omitted from the application, and indicated our intention to continue to raise them during the public comment period as ongoing issues of public concern. 

KGHM Ajax must participate in SSN's assessment process

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 4:00am

The Kamloops Area Preservation Association congratulates the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation (SSN) for establishing its own Project Assessment Process for the proposed Ajax Mine. KAPA also applauds the decision by the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) that the mine proponent, KGHM Ajax, must participate in the SSN’s assessment process, as outlined in a November 20, 2015 letter from the EAO to KGHM Ajax, posted on the EAO website. http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/documents/p362/1448063543064_gb7qWPxNg9J6JC6gY0sLTnHXWLvcQ65FLl3Z2dn58QxkSXnHnVVg!-1807974911!1448063277098.pdf

Issues that will NOT be reviewed in the Application

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 3:59am

Here is another update related to the Ajax proposal. As we await the public release of the Ajax application on January 4th, we wish to further inform you of the issues that will NOT be reviewed in the application as they have been ruled “out of scope” by the company and leaders of the assessment process.  They include:

Write to Ottawa requesting a Panel Review

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 14th, 2016 3:58am

Hello Stop Ajax Mine members:

We all know that, soon, Mayor Milobar and Councillor Lange will be travelling to Ottawa to meet with Environment Minister Catherine McKenna to request a Federal panel review of the proposed Ajax mine.  In support of this meeting KAPA would like to see an avalanche of letters requesting a panel review landing on McKenna’s and other cabinet ministers’ desks before our delegation arrives.

Urge Council to Ask (again) for a Federal Panel Review

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 2nd, 2015 10:18am

At the City Council meeting on November 24, councillors will be voting on a motion to ask the new federal government for a federal panel review of the Ajax project.  As you probably know,  Council has asked for this review but was denied by the previous government.     

New site for Kamloops air monitoring station

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 10th, 2015 10:39am

KAMLOOPS ʹ Construction is now underway on a new air-quality monitoring site for Kamloops residents at Pacific Way Elementary school in the Upper Aberdeen neighbourhood.

The Mount Polley Disaster, One Year Later

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 10th, 2015 10:39am

by Rod Marining
posted by Common Ground in August 2015

The Problem with (Self-Regulated) Environmental Assessments

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 10th, 2015 10:38am

The problem with (self-regulated) environmental assessments
Anne Casselman | Jul 14, 2015
BC Business Newsletter, www.bcbusiness.ca

Town hall meeting will launch City’s Ajax review

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 10th, 2015 10:38am

Town hall meeting will launch City's Ajax review.
Council agrees to five-stage process over six months

by Mike Youds, newskamloops.com
August 18, 2015

UPDATE to Indiegogo August

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 24th, 2015 11:42am

We hope your summer is going well.  Here is a quick update on the “ Help Stop Ajax Mine” crowdfunding appeal.

Radio NL Misinformation

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 28th, 2015 5:13am

A recent Radio NL story said the following:

Who are they, where are they? Group opposed to the Ajax Copper Mine admits that they can't prove earlier claims that 150 Kamloops businesses are against the Ajax Copper Mine.

Revised Application Information Requirements Released by EAO

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 28th, 2015 5:12am

The revised Application Information Requirements (AIR) for the proposed Ajax Mine were posted on July 24 on the Environmental Assessment Office website. You can review the document this way:

COALITION SURPASSES FUNDRAISING TARGET TO DEFEND CITY AGAINST MINE ON ITS DOORSTEP

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on June 19th, 2015 8:18am

Five community groups advocating for the health and well being of the citizens of Kamloops, British Columbia, joined forces to conduct a 30-day grassroots crowdfunding campaign that met and exceeded its target.

Funds raised will be used to hire independent experts to critique the formal application for the proposed Ajax mine, a huge open pit copper/gold mining operation on the doorstep of the B.C. Interior City of 87,000 people.

Top 10 copper producing nations

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 22nd, 2015 11:12am

While demand for copper dropped slightly in 2014 compared to 2013, global production of the metal increased by 400 million tonnes to hit 18,700 million tonnes, according to a report from the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Letter opposing wet tailings facilities in B.C.

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 22nd, 2015 11:12am

Here is a request from Rivers Without Borders:

Rivers Without Borders is working with BC filmmaker Monty Bassett to obtain as many signatures as possible on a group letter to the BC government opposing wet tailings dams at new BC mines.

Next steps in the environmental assessment

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 12th, 2015 11:15am

What are the Next Steps in the Environmental Assessment?

EAO Requires Tailings Management Options

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on March 27th, 2015 5:23am

The Environmental Assessment Office issued a letter on March 19 to all mining proponents regarding the additional information requirements for mines with proposed new tailings storage facilities, as part of its implementation of the Mount Polley Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Report recommendations.

In Situ Mining - An Aquifer Contamination Threat

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on March 27th, 2015 5:22am

Our February 16, 2015 Bulletin – An Alternative to Open Pit Mining, described the process called “in situ” mining”, meaning “in place”.  The metal is extracted by injecting sulphuric acid into formations more than 400 feet underground, where it strips the fractured rock of its metal. The mix of acid and minerals is pumped back to the surface for processing.

Interesting Comments in Abacus Sept 2014 Financial Report

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 5th, 2014 5:08am

Interesting Comments in Abacus Sept 2014 Financial Report

November 29, 2014 - How to Find the Online Public Comment Form

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 5th, 2014 4:40am

How to Find the Online Public Comment Form

KAPA lawyers ask for environmental assessment shut down.

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 19th, 2014 4:55pm

Yesterday, September 18, KAPA lawyers sent a message to BC Environment Minister, Mary Polak, asking her to suspend the environmental assessment of the proposed Ajax mine due to the change in tailings management from a dry stack tailings pile to a wet tailings pond.  Here is the letter from the lawyers:

Doctors say "No more room to pollute"

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 19th, 2014 10:54am

This news item was released on September 9, 2014 to the media. We did not see or hear anything in the media about this. Did any of you?  Here is the news release – we hope you will pass it on to your family, friends, and co-workers.

Ajax protest outside Coast Kamloops Hotel continues inside.

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 18th, 2014 10:21am

Along with hundreds of teachers, our Ajax protestors stood outside Coast Kamloops Hotel as people arrived for lunch with the premier and cabinet.  Inside there were 5 people from KAPA and Kamloops Physicians for a Healthy Environment attending the luncheon, who were each promised a seat at a table with a minister.   Unfortunately many ministers did not attend and there were 10 tables with no ministers at them.  Still, our attendees did their best to get their messages across to the cabinet members that were there.  Here is the news report on the event:

http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ministry-environment-meets-kghm-ajax/

Public has a right to comment on changes to Ajax plan.

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 14th, 2014 10:21am

News was released  on September 8, that the BC Environmental Assessment Office has turned down our City Council's request for a second public comment period to deal with the new mine plan. Chief among the changes is the plan for a huge tailings pond - more accurately described as a toxic sludge dump - to replace the former dry stack tailings pile along the Coquihalla Highway.   KAPA chairperson, Paula Pick, describes the many reasons for needing a public comment period in this letter to the Armchair Mayor:

http://armchairmayor.ca/2014/09/14/letter-public-has-a-right-to-comment-on-changes-to-ajax-plan/

What is Social Licence?

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 29th, 2014 2:13pm

The value of a mine is generally determined by the amount of resources available, the cost of extraction and the price of the commodity being mined. Yet there is now another factor in valuing a mine: whether it has community support, or social licence.

Ajax Dam should be classified an "extreme" risk.

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 25th, 2014 8:30am

KAPA researcher, Don Barz, put together a compelling letter to Kamloops This Week, protesting a recent Ministry of Energy and Mines pronouncement that a failure of one of the proposed Ajax tailings dams would present a "very high" risk, with loss of less than 100 lives.  He contends that if should be classified as "extreme risk", since the debris flow down through the City of Kamloops would result in far more than 100 lives lost.  

http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ajax-dam-classified-extreme-risk/

KAPA reports major deficiencies in environmental process

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 20th, 2014 11:36am

KAPA sent a report to the BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Office outlining major deficiencies in the current environmental assessment process. The report was also sent along with a news release to the media. In a letter signed by KAPA’s lawyer, Jenny Biem, of Woodward and Company, governments are being warned that failure to provide opportunities for the public to participate in the assessment process contravenes the promise to “give full and fair consideration to all interests” affected by the proposed mine.  An addendum attached to the letter documents many deficiencies in the assessment process, many centering on the lack of disclosure of the many toxic substances that will be released from the mine rock.

Lake Refuses to Meet

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 6th, 2014 11:28am

MLA Terry Lake has refused to meet with KAPA representatives and his own constituents to discuss mining issues until the environmental assessment is completed, sometime in 2015. Sixty of us picketed his office and talked to the media about four topics that need to be discussed now.

Meeting with MLA Tegart

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 31st, 2014 11:29am

KAPA representatives met with MLA Jackie Tegart (Fraser-Nicola) and presented the issues mentioned above, as well as water concerns in the Peterson Creek watershed. She will meet with Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines, to point out that the environmental assessment process and the Mineral Tenure Act are flawed and must be revised.

Kerek and Dudy to Run for Council

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 30th, 2014 11:30am

Peter Kerek , president of the Kamloops and District Labor Council, announced he will run for City Council. Earlier, Dieter Dudy, owner of Thistle Farm, announced he will enter the race. Dudy nearly unseated Mayor Milobar during the last election. Both are opposed to the proposed Ajax mine. If they, plus Cavers and Lange, are elected there will be four councillorsl who are willing to stand up against the mine. We need at least five people on Council to oppose this mine! Be sure to vote so it counts!

Council Steps up to the Plate!

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 15th, 2014 11:30am

Over 40 of us attended a City Council meeting to support Councillor Donovan Cavers' motion to ask the BC Environmental Assessment Office (BCEAO) for a new public comment period and to insist that the BCEAO  update the public on the environmental assessment process in September as promised. Hats off to Council which unanimously supported the motion!

Federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq Rejects Federal Review Panel on KGHM Ajax Mine

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 24th, 2014 4:02pm

The Prosperity Mine near William's Lake was approved by the povincial assessment, then it was rejected by a federal review panel... then after Properity resubmitted, the federal review panel rejected it again! Perhaps that is why so many are concerned about this provincial assessment that the KGHM Ajax mine is going through?

Here's the response from the Minister for you to review.

Kamloops Group Demands the Resignation of BC Mines Minister Bill Bennett

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 5th, 2014 3:00pm

The following press release was sent out this morning from the Kamloops Area Preservation Association. 

PROPERTY TAXES TO SUBSIDIZE AJAX MINE?

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 16th, 2013 10:59am

The following letter was sent to the Kamloops Daily News and Kamloops This Week newspapers and also sent to us for posting on the website.

Reading Between the Lines re KGHM Ajax Aug 2 Announcement

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on August 14th, 2013 10:20pm

On August 2nd, KGHM Ajax held a press conference where they announced that they were delaying their application because they have potentially found a new ore body that they'd like to investigate and potentially expand the project and maybe even make it even bigger, at the same time, they said they may move some of the facilities further away from the city: coverage here, from Kamloops Daily News. 

Letter to EAO Regarding Blasting from February 2011

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 28th, 2013 7:50am

In light of recent developments regarding the anticipated Ajax blasting, as well as a report from Golder & Associates objecting to the exclusion of air blasting from the environmental assessment process, we have received a letter from Sharon Antoniak that was sent April 9, 2013 to both the CEAA, Catherine Ponsford, and EAO, Scott Bailey. In the letter Sharon explains that her family felt and heard the test blast from February 2011 that KGHM has long stated would not and could not have been felt by anyone. Now with the release by KGHM stating Aberdeen residents would feel blasting, we think it's time to release the letter. 

Transcript from Doctors on Jim Harrison Show June 25, 2013

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 16th, 2013 7:02pm

We created a transcript of this excellent interview with Dr. Twila Burgmann and Dr. Jill Calder on the Jim Harrison show on June 25, 2013.    

Unredacted Letter from BC CDC

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 4th, 2013 5:18pm

We have received a copy of the unredacted letter from the BC Centre for Disease Control. The following press release was sent to the media on July 4, 2013.    

Redacted Letter from the BC Centre for Disease Control

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on June 26th, 2013 9:30pm

The following press release was sent to the local media regarding the release of a redacted letter from the BC Centre for Disease Control regarding the proposed Ajax copper-gold mine. A copy of the letter is included at the end of the press release.

EAO Response to a Complaint Regarding the KGHM Ajax Mine

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on June 9th, 2013 11:33am

The below response is to one of our supporters that contacted the BCEAO regarding recent activity at the proposed Ajax Mine site. The respondent's name has been withheld.   

In Response to Terry Lake's Rebuttal to Dr. Calder at the All Candidates Forum

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on May 13th, 2013 10:52am

We received the following letter to the editor which was interestingly not published to either Kamloops This Week or Kamloops Daily News websites, so they asked us to post it to share the views of some members of our community.   For those who are unfamiliar, Dr. Calder asked Terry Lake if he would support an independent health impact assessment on the mine and many received Mr. Lake's response as quite rude and abraisive, and accusing Dr. Calder of being hypocritical since doctors use industry sponsored research when they prescribe drugs to their patients. 

Ajax Lead and the Brain

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 15th, 2013 10:38am

The following letter was written by a local doctor and submitted to us for posting to the website. It is regarding the affects of lead on the brain..

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 11th, 2013 8:44am

The following list of citations were provided by Dr. Moench regarding air pollution and it's impact on our health. This is nothing to say we are going to turn into Salt Lake City or have as much air pollution as Salt Lake City, but it shows how significant an impact air pollution has on our health. With the Ajax mine proposing to burn 91,000 litres of diesel fuel EVERY DAY, it will of course create more air pollution that is blown over the rest of our town.     

Kamloops should weigh impact of gold mine on environment

Posted by Dr. Moench and Cherise Udell on April 2nd, 2013 5:37am

The following op-ed piece was written by Dr. Moench and Cherise Udell, and was printed in the Vancouver Sun newspaper, http://www.vancouversun.com/business/bc2035/Kamloops+should+weigh+impact+gold+mine+environment/8166648/story.html 

Interestingly, it has yet to be printed in either of our local Kamloops newspapers.

USA Doctors and Moms Say: "Learn From Our Mistakes - Kamloops Ajax Mine a Public Health Disaster in the making"

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on March 13th, 2013 5:49pm

For immediate release

March 12th, 2013

The British Columbia community, Kamloops, is fighting a proposed open pit copper mine, similar to Salt Lake City’s Rio Tinto’s Kennecott mine. In doing research on the impacts of mining on public health, Kamloops mom, Gina Morris, came across Utah Moms for Clean Air.

News Release - Ajax Test Blast Report

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 13th, 2013 1:30pm

The Kamloops Area Preservation Association (KAPA) is calling for KGHM Ajax to re-do the test blasts it conducted in February 2011 at a proposed open pit mine, located less than two kilometres from residential areas in the City of Kamloops, due to deficiencies in the data collected for these blasts.   

A Concerned Citizen's Research into the Proposed Ajax Mine

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 11th, 2013 7:35pm

The following email was sent to us by a concerned citizen who decided to do his own research into the mine after reading so much about the debate. As we encourage all of you to do, he spent hours reading and researching the mine, KGHM, and the province online and sent the following letter in to us, and graciously gave permission to post it here.    

Dust Problems in Peterborough?

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on November 21st, 2012 2:59am

It seems as though they are having some dust problems in Peterborough Ontario. We have obtained a letter send from the Peterborough County-City Health Unit that was sent out to all residents of Peterborough in August, 2012 discussing the rise in dust levels and the reasoning behind it as well as the consequences.   The nearby Unimin mine has been identified as the source of the elevated dust levels and they are (at the time of the writing of this letter) working with the mine to help stop the issue. The complete letter is here, and we've provided our analysis below. 

News Release - Ajax Potential Barrier to Keeping Doctors in Kamloops

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on November 20th, 2012 8:30am

A survey has recently been sent to all 207 doctors in Kamloops, 152 of which replied. The following press release details the results of that survey. Complete survey results can be found here. A few interesting notes are that 69.1% of the doctors surveyed said they would have not come to Kamloops when searching for a community to practice. Second, if the Ajax mine was in place 35.5% of the surveyed doctors will leave town if the Ajax mine is approved. Read the 

Open Letter to Ajax by Kevin Krueger

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on October 29th, 2012 8:51am

This weekend, Kevin Krueger posted an Open Letter to Ajax about their current proposal. It wasn't published online so we retyped it and published it here.    

Letter from Steve Knudson

Posted by Steve Knudson on October 23rd, 2012 11:19am

Another great letter by a concerned citizen of Kamloops, sent to City Council and both newspapers. If you would like to have your thoughts published here, please email info@stopajaxmine.ca.    

Letter to Editor from Annemarie Watts

Posted by Annemarie Watts on October 15th, 2012 9:26am

The following letter was sent to us by a local concerned resident.  It echoes our thoughts on the affect the mine will have on Kamloops' image and brand as the Tournament Capital and a healthy, sustainable, vibrant community - an image that is important to a great many residents of Kamloops.

BC Hydro and Ajax Power Usage

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on October 7th, 2012 11:14am

UPDATED: We've updated some of our calculations to try determine the real tax revenues based on the subsidy we've calculated the mine will receive.

There has been a lot of discussion about the amount of power the Ajax mine will be using and how this affects us in Kamloops. Here's the facts we know: 

1. The Ajax mine is estimating that it will use 470,538,348kWh/year (from page 228 of the Ajax Mine Feasibility Study), at a rate of $0.035/kWh USD (or $0.0343/kWh CDN as of October 7th, 2012) from BC Hydro. http://www.ajaxmine.ca/pdfs/Ajax_Feasibility_Study_43-101.pdf

2. We pay for our power in a 2 step process. The first 1,350kWh we use is at a rate of $0.068/kWh CDN, and after that we pay $0.1019/kWh CDN.  Note that this has increased since our previous infographic was released earlier this year. https://www.bchydro.com/youraccount/content/residential_bill.jsp

KGHM Ajax Liability and Compensation

Posted by Michael Hewitt on September 10th, 2012 10:10am

In Councillor Arjun Singh's recent blog on www.yourkamloops.com in which he states his position on the proposed KGHM Ajax Mine, he appears to support the need to address compensation for adverse effects caused by the proposed mine. 

Dust Mitigation Strategies

Posted by Dianne Kerr on July 12th, 2012 10:20am

The following letter was written and sent to the Editor of the Daily News and Kamloops This Week back in February.    

Where are the Heavy Metal Studies and Assay Results?

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 10th, 2012 8:11am

The following letter was written by Dr. Kelly Orringer, Assistant Professor of General Paediatrics at the University of Michigan Faculty of Medicine. It outlines the problems we face from heavy metals in the air pollution that will be generated by the mine should it be approved. 

The Other Side of the Economic Argument

Posted by Dianne Kerr on July 6th, 2012 1:03pm

Is the Ajax mine really an economic boon to the community if examined through the lens of cost/benefit?   

Not This Mine, Not This Place

Posted by Dianne Kerr on July 6th, 2012 8:57am

What is happening in Kamloops is a microcosm of what is happening in many parts of Canada with respect to gutted environmental legislation and the determination of both the federal and provincial governments to facilitate exploitation of Canadian resources whatever the costs.  The proposal for a giant open pit copper/gold mine to locate within the City limits is also a precedent in that this is a healthy moderate sized community of 87,000 people with a balanced economy and attractive lifestyle. The City was here first with its university, regional hospital, and status as a Tournament Capital in Canada.  It currently attracts both new business and new residents without any mine in its midst.   If the senior governments can put a mine in Kamloops, no city with even low grade mineral resources like this one will be safe.  

The Aftermath; Cleaning up the Mess

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on June 19th, 2012 1:09pm

It has been suggested that the reclamation/remediation of a mine site is always effective, and security deposits are applied to the cost of reclamation. If only that were true! It is difficult to understand how the pristine grasslands of the proposed Ajax mine site would look like anything but a massive moonscape should the mine go ahead.

Re: KGHM Ajax Mining Company committed to community. Daily News, May 31, 2012.

Posted by Michael Hewitt on June 9th, 2012 12:42am

In his letter of May 31 Mr. Mostowy protests that false statements have been made about KGHM Ajax, wants to set the record straight and to deliver facts. Mr. Mostowy then proceeds to make statements which misrepresent the facts in a number of ways. For example, Mr. John Schleiermacher is indeed a member of KAPA, but it was as a private individual he wrote the letter to which Mr. Mostowy objects. He did not discuss it with KAPA, and has every right to act on his own behalf, so Mr. Mostowy is wrong to attribute Mr. Schleiermacher's letter to KAPA.  Further, the Community Advisory Group (CAG) representatives for KAPA are Dr. Judith Naylor and myself, not Mr. Schleiermacher as was implied.  The EAO staff at CAG meetings made it very clear that members are free to deal with the media without jeopardizing their membership on CAG.  Being a member of CAG does not mean that members cannot continue to present the positions of their parent groups to the public. If letters to the media from KAPA members who also sit on CAG are considered to be "circumventing the EA process" then the many statements made by Mr. Whittaker on behalf of KGHM Ajax to organizations, city council and the media actively promoting the proposed mine must also be considered to be "circumventing the EA process". Remember, KGHM Ajax is a key participant in the EA process, so  KGHM should leave it to the EA process to conduct a proper review and stop trying to influence the decision makers. 

Are we being Delphied? En Excerpt from the United Nations Global Strait Jacket

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on May 14th, 2012 2:48pm

Are we being Delphied? There are a number of  similarities from the workshops the mine has been putting on to what is referenced in this book. To quickly define the Delphi technique:

The goal of the Delphi technique is to lead a targeted group of people to a predetermined outcome, while giving the illusion of taking public input and under the pretext of being accountable to the public. For the Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier's predetermined outcome.

Keeping us away from knowledgeable people... or in their case "experts" who are being paid by the mine! Second, without giving us any of their test blast data, and other materials that is "proprietary", are they not keeping experts away from us since we aren't able to independantly verify or validate any of their claims?

If you were at the previous workshop that occured at TRU you'll appreciate this excerpt: 

 

One variation on the Delphi technique is to use a series of meetings. The attendees are often given a number or a colored card when they enter the room, to determine at which table they are to sit. The purpose of this is to break up the groups of potentially knowledgeable people who arrive together so that they will be sitting with strangers and therefore be subdued.

They didn't give out cards at the meeting, but they had assigned seating, why not just let people come in and sit where they want? Sounds very similar to the above statement.  A short excerpt of the book is provided below:   

In Response to Nancy Bepple's Column: Reduction in energy use a good investment

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on April 26th, 2012 11:29am

Nancy Bepple wrote the following article in the Kamloops Daily News on April 23, 2012, (http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20120423/KAMLOOPS0304/120429970/-1/kamloops/bepple-reduction-in-energy-use-a-good-investment) encouraging us to reduce our energy use. We found this interesting considering her position in the Ajax mine, and the amount of energy they will be using at a drastically reduced rate. Our response follows:     

Water, water everywhere...

Posted by Ruth Madsen on February 20th, 2012 10:03pm

The following letter written by Ruth Madsen, summarizes our concerns regarding water and the Ajax mine, as well as conflicts raised in the feasibility study by some facts mentioned by Ajax. The booklet that was released said the mine would be a "zero discharge facility" yet, the Feasibility Study mentions the Tailings Facility would be a "zero discharge facility" not the entire mine. These are the kinds of misleading statements that keep us concerned about the mine and the amount of honesty coming from KGHM Ajax.

ASARCO MISSION COMPLEX COPPER MINES - YOUR SILENT TOXIC MINE DUST NEIGHBOR-SAHUARITA-GREEN VALLEY, AZ

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 14th, 2012 11:53am

Further to our last post about the Asacro mine in Arizona, the following link describes another experience by a citizen living next to the mine. 

http://www.billbrabant.com/leadership/asarco-mission-complex-copper-mines-your-silent-toxic-mine-dust-neighbor-sahuarita-green-valley-az/

The following video complements his story.

Asarco Mine in Arizona - very similar to Ajax

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 14th, 2012 6:47am

 

The following video and map deal with the Asarco Mine, near Sahuarita, Arizona, USA. The town is about 10 kilometres from the open pit. The dimensions of the mine are similar to ( but slightly larger than) those of the proposed KGHM - Ajax mine, with a pit 2.5 miles long X 1.5 miles wide and 1200 feet deep.   The mine has 618 employees. Dust has become a major issue for the people of Sahurita, as the video clearly shows. What KGHM Ajax must now explain is what new technology have they discovered that will prevent a similar dispersion of dust over Kamloops, where some residences are about 1 to 2 kilometres away from the mine site. The proposed KGHM Ajax mine is too darn close to the city. Are they proposing to use water, given all the water problems Aberdeen has? Will they use dust suppressants of some kind, only for those products to be blown over the city. Too many questions, and too few answers coming from the government or the proponent.

Resident of Kamloops Speaks Out

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on February 13th, 2012 9:42pm

The following letter was recently sent to the BCEAO/CEAA officials as the author's response to the Ajax mine proposal. A copy was also sent to KAPA. The letter epitomizes the concerns an increasing number of Kamloops residents have concerning the proposal to locate this huge mine far too close to Kamloops. It should serve as a wake up call to our city councillors that is is high time they did more than just sit back and wait to see what will happen. Doesn't the city, having requested a federal panel review - and been refused - feel any responsibility in the issue? How has the city followed up on it's request for answers to questions, sent in a letter to the BCEAO last July? Have any replies been received, and if so, will that information be made public? We can only hope that it won't be left to individuals, and organizations such as KAPA to insist on a fair and transparent response to legitimate questions.

City of Kamloops Air Quality Survey

Posted by Michael Hewitt on February 1st, 2012 11:17am

The City of Kamloops Air Quality Survey is an interesting and informative document. It raises a number of air quality health-related issues which, in light of the proposal to develop a huge open pit mine with the city limits, should be treated very seriously. Dust is one form of particulate matter (PM), and the proposed mine will generate lots of it, much of which will be blown over Kamloops by the prevailing southwest wind. Dust from the mine could include such toxic elements as arsenic, chromium, uranium, lead, manganese, mercury, and strontium. It should be noted that the Abacus Feasibility Study states that the rock at Ajax can be reground as fine as between 8 to 17 μm, (micrometres, 1000th of a metre) with a median of 12 μm. That is finer than the diameter of a human hair, which ranges from 18 to 180 micrometres. The Air Quality Survey makes a few very interesting statements regarding PM, and ends with an almost poignant vision of Kamloops in the future, ("Where We Are Going") a vision which KAPA strongly supports, and which demonstrates  exactly why the proposed mine should not be approved. Here are some extracts from the Air Quality Review.

Kent's Wasted Visit to Kamloops

Posted by Bruce Stevens on January 31st, 2012 11:04am

Peter Kent, once a respected, award-winning reporter, news and anchor person who brought courage and integrity to the stories he covered, now appears to have abandoned his integrity and become instead another one of his boss’ obsequious lackeys.  Like B.C.’s Provincial counterpart, Terry Lake, it is a true oxymoron to call Peter Kent an Environment Minister.

Rio Tinto Sued by Physicians for Air Pollution

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on January 20th, 2012 2:35pm

Rio Tinto's Bingham Canyon open pit copper mine, just to the west of Salt Lake City, Utah, is a large contributor to Salt Lake City's air pollution (and water pollution). Forbes Magazine rates Salt Lake City's air quality as the ninth most toxic city in the USA. Dr. Moench and environmental groups in Salt Lake City have now launched a law suit against RTK (Rio Tinto/Kennekott) for violating the Clean Air Act in Utah. 

Feasibility Study Abacus Mining and Exploration Corp. for Ajax low-grade open-pit copper mine

Posted by John Schleiermacher on December 23rd, 2011 4:28pm

The recap of the feasibility study released by Abacus Mining and Exploration on December 21, 2011 on the company’s website has some interesting information.

Mining and Toxic Metals Redoil Case Study

Posted by Michael Hewitt on December 23rd, 2011 8:17am

REDOIL (Resisting Environmental Destruction On Indigenous Lands)  has released a case study of the proposed Donlin Creek Mine (Alaska) called "Mining and Toxic Metals".

The following are brief extracts from the report, which describes in detail the effects on health and the environment of toxic metals released by mining operations. Some of the metals referred to in the Redoil Study are present in the KGHM Ajax ore body (e.g. lead and arsenic). 

It is not known if the Ajax ore body has been assayed for mercury.

A link to the complete report is provided here.

Impact of Surface Mining on Residential Property Values

Posted by Michael Hewitt on December 20th, 2011 10:54am

A recent study on the impact of surface mining on residential property values in the USA provides a very interesting comment on what can be expected in Kamloops should the KGHM Ajax mine project be approved. The study is called "The Impact of Surface Coal Mining on Residential Property Values: A Hedonic Price Analysis Austin Williams University of Tennessee- Knoxville May 2011 Dr. Christian Vossler, Faculty Advisor". 

Cathy McLeod Letter to Peter Kent - Dec 1, 2011

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 6th, 2011 1:17pm

Attached is a copy of the letter MP Cathy McLeod delivered to Federal Environmental Minister Peter Kent on December 1st. We have posted it here for public viewing. 

Letter from Kamloops Physicians and Surgeons

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on December 2nd, 2011 6:00am

In light of Federal Environmental Minister Peter Kent's refusal to appoint an independant panel review "at this time" for the Ajax Mine, we would like to present the following letter that was also sent to Peter Kent on behalf of the Physicians and Surgeons of the City of Kamloops and surrounding area. There was overwhelming support by the majority of the physicians and surgeons  for a Federal Panel Review, and 60 signatures were obtained in a period of 3 days. A PDF copy is attached here.

Another response to Peter Kent

Posted by John Schleiermacher on November 30th, 2011 8:26pm

The following is another letter in response to Peter Kent's reply to a number of concerned Kamloops citizens about the proposed KGHM Ajax mine. We previously posted a response from Michael Hewitt here.

In response to Peter Kent's Letter to Numerous Citizens of Kamloops Regarding a Panel Review

Posted by Michael Hewitt on November 29th, 2011 6:12pm

A number of concerned Kamloops residents have written Federal Environmental Minister Peter Kent regarding a Federal Review Panel for the KGHM Ajax Mine. After receiving a response from the Minister regarding these letters (click here to read it), Michael Hewitt, a member of KAPA sent the following response.    

Regarding Gord Bacon: "Mining industry not getting the message out"

Posted by Michael Hewitt on November 29th, 2011 2:22am

The following letter was sent to the Kamloops Daily News in response to Gord Bacon's letter to the editor entitled: "Mining industry not getting the word out", posted November 26, 2011.

Telus Building New Data Centre in Kamloops

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on November 9th, 2011 10:10am

The potential jobs that the proposed KGHM Ajax Mine will create has been the number one, if not only, reason behind the pro-mine movement in Kamloops. With that being said, Kamloops has just been ranked in the top 3 cities in the province of BC for real estate investment over the next 5 years, predominantly because of our already-growing economy. We would like to pose the question of how much of this existing growth would be affected by the mine, should it be approved? With 2 world-class datacentres being built in Kamloops already how would the decisions for those datacentres have been made if the mine was already in place? 

Another Letter in Response to Terry Lake

Posted by Michael Hewitt on November 9th, 2011 9:18am

The following letter was sent to the Kamloops Daily News regarding Terry Lake's recent comments about the proposed KGHM Ajax mine and the provincial assessment process that is underway. 

Europe's Best and Worst Carbon Polluters Named and Shamed

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on November 4th, 2011 10:11am

Posted April 28, 2011 on GreenBiz.com, KGHM Polska Miedz SA was ranked 300/300 (ie. the worst) in all of Europe for Carbon Pollution. Here's the link to the full report: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/04/28/europes-best-and-worst-carbon-polluters-named-and-shamed.

In Response to Terry Lake's Defense of the Provincial Assessment Process

Posted by Don Barz on November 2nd, 2011 4:31pm

The following letter was sent by Don Barz to the Editor of Kamloops This Week in response to Terry Lake's defense of the provincial assessment process. In this article: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/132826263.html, Terry Lake explains his position on the federal review panel.

But, Lake did express his concern to KTW over Kamloops city council's recent move to ask for a joint-panel review of the project, a request that was echoed this week by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

Specifically, the Kamloops-North Thompson Liberal MLA questioned whether council made its decision based on full information about the process.

He suggested they did so relying on details from an outside group.

Don's letter is in response to these comments. We'd also like to note, as the article does, that the TNRD also voted in favor of a federal review panel. 

Response to John Mazure's letter Oct.13 2011

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on October 19th, 2011 6:31am

The following letter was sent by Dr. Judith Naylor to the Daily News in response to John Mazure Acting Executive Director, Environmental Assessment Office, Victoria, again saying why it is necessary for Kamloops Citizens to receive the best Environmental Assessment for the protection of the Health of the citizens, and consideration of all the effects on the Environment. The first class assessment is without any doubt, the Federal Assessment, as shown in the following letter.

Here is a link to the original letter posted to the daily news by John Mazure.

Dust Created By Open Pit Mines

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 29th, 2011 2:36pm

When considering what kind of problem could be created by the proposed KGHM-Ajax mine, it is useful to compare the type of operation being proposed by Ajax with another open pit mine, Bellavista Gold Mine. This will give some idea of what creates the dust, how much dust is created, and what quantity of dust can be expected to migrate from the Ajax mine site. The term "Fugitive Dust" is used to describe dust that is created by mining operations, and can escape from the mine site.

Letter to Peter Kent, Environmental Minister of Canada from Kamloops Chapter of the Council of Canadians

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 22nd, 2011 10:47am

On behalf of the Kamloops Chapter of the Council of Canadians, Anita Strong has sent the following letter to Peter Kent, the Environmental Minister of Canada. We want to share this letter as an amazing example of what we should be sending to Peter Kent. Please note, however, that should you also send a letter, it does not have to be this thorough and lengthy. 

Sample Letter for Canadian Environmental Minister, Peter Kent

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on September 13th, 2011 10:16am

The following letter has been written by KAPA and we encourage all who are opposed to the mine to download, print, add your name, and mail it to The Honourable Peter Kent. You are welcome to modify the letter to suit your needs, we have provided this as a starting point for those who would like to contact the Minister with your concerns. 

Letter to Editor, September 1, 2011 from Don Barz

Posted by Don Barz on September 1st, 2011 3:03pm

Editor: Kamloops News:

I am responding to John Froese’s letter of August 13th (‘Ajax concerns call for clarification’) in which he purports to provide clarification of issues I raised in my letter of August 10th (‘Tougher Review Process Needed’).  Froese cites the issues of impacts on water bodies and acid drainage and insinuates that my comments on these concerns need clarification.  A careful review of my letter shows that I made no comments whatsoever on these two issues, so I am not certain what Mr. Froese is trying to clarify. 

The Great Ajax Mine Debate

Posted by Stop Ajax Mine on July 21st, 2011 2:04pm

 

There are many good folks in Kamloops and Area who would agree with Jim Harrison’s Editorial Comment on radio NL July 7th.  We do need to be reminded from time to time that we have a fine history in the contribution that was made to our economy by Afton Mines, Tech Corp and others who at one point made the City a mining centre of some importance. Mr. Harrison went on to opine that, “The City has another opportunity to once again become a centre of mining importance, with the proposed Ajax Mine, and just up the North Thompson, the Yellowhead Mine……(and people) they need to be reminded that mining made Kamloops what it is today, and the city shouldn't squander the opportunity it has to help Kamloops regain its reputation as a world centre for mining.”