Business
Abacus Mining & Exploration: Ajax Project Nears Completion of Environmental Review Process
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abacus Mining & Exploration Corporation (“Abacus” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:AME) is pleased to pro
About this update from Abacus Mining & Exploration Corp.
[{"type":"text","content":"VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abacus Mining & Exploration Corporation (“Abacus” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:AME) is pleased to provide an update on the Ajax Project, located southwest of Kamloops, B.C. Ajax is an advanced stage copper-gold project that is owned by KGHM Ajax Mining Inc., a joint venture company owned by Abacus (20%) and KGHM Polska Miedz S.A. (80%). The Ajax Project is in the final stages of a coordinated Provincial and Federal Environmental Assessment process (\"EA process\"). The provincial and federal agencies responsible for the EA process issued a Joint Assessment Report in August of 2017, together with the proposed provincial EA Certificate conditions. A final public comment period on the Joint Assessment Report began on August 8 and ended on October 10, 2017, following which separate environmental assessment decisions on the Ajax Mine Project will be made by the federal and provincial ministers. A provincial decision is expected by December of 2017 and a federal decision by early 2018. The Ajax EA process has been the subject of an active review under the coordinated direction of the provincial Environmental Assessment Office of BC (“EAO”) and the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (“Agency”) for more than six years since its formal commencement on February 25, 2011. The EA process has involved: extensive engagement with government agencies, Indigenous groups and various stakeholder groups; a technical advisory Working Group established by the EAO and Agency early in 2012 comprising representatives of federal, provincial, and local/regional governments, including representatives of potentially affected Indigenous groups; a Community Advisory Group comprising nineteen local organizations, which met formally with the EAO on sixteen occasions; public consultation activities comprising: five public comment periods totalling 263 days of public comment; nine open houses attended by more than 2,600 participants; submission of more than 4,000 public comments. An 18,000-page EA Application which was formally accepted by the EAO on January 18, 2016. Significant conclusions of the joint Assessment Report are as follows: The Ajax Project is not likely to cause significant adverse effects with respect to the various environmental issues requi...