Environmental assessment sinks proposed Ajax mine near Kamloops (CBC News B.C. – December 14, 2017)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/

The provincial government has opted not to issue an environmental assessment certificate for a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine near Kamloops, prompting applause from the city and local First Nations.

The 1,700-hectare Ajax mine proposed by KGHM would have been located about 10 kilometres southwest of Kamloops on the traditional territories of the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN), Ashcroft Indian Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band and Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band.

According to a statement from the provincial environment and mines ministries, an environmental assessment found too many negative impacts for the proposal in areas such as air quality and local ecosystems.

“Given these conclusions and the close proximity of Ajax to the City of Kamloops … 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,” a government news release said.

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian told CBC News that the risks were just too great. “It was a divisive item that now we can put behind us,” he said. “We were hoping for this rejection and now we’ve got it.”

For the rest of this article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/environmental-assessment-sinks-proposed-ajax-mine-near-kamloops-1.4449434