At the last KGHM Ajax mining process workshop Mr. Whittaker, project manager, was specifically asked about the existence of an aquifer under Ajax's east waste pile. Mr. Whittaker flatly denied that there was an aquifer anywhere under the project. 

With a little research I have found this map from the province of the Sugarloaf Hill aquifer. I'll be the first to say that this is outside my area of expertise but the horizontal yellow blob in the centre of the map is the aquifer. It lies immediately north of Petersen Creek. Looking at KGHM Ajax's website the east waste rock pile also lies immediately north of Petersen Creek in the same area. Unfortunately, Ajax's map has neither scale nor coordinates indicated so it is hard to make a comparison. (Knutsford is shown at the upper right and Goose Lake at lower left of this map).

Perhaps the Daily News could find a non-biased expert who could interpret this map and clear up the confusion that Mr. Whittaker created for some of us who where at the meeting. 

As an aside, Mr. Whittaker stated that Ajax's biggest concern with the east pile is that there may be a high enough level of mineralization in that area that they will want to mine there in the future. He did not say where they intended to move the pile. 

ROSS NICHOL

Kamloops