Application Information Requirements for the proposed Ajax Mine Project

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and the Canadian Environmental Agency (CEA) issued the revised Application Information Requirements / Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines for KGHM Ajax Mining.

The 249-page document (PDF) is available on the EAO Website.

Annual Meteor Shower

From Kamloops InfoNews:

This year the peak is expected in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 30, but should be visible a few days before and after as well. 

The shower is not a very prominent shower to begin with, but with a full moon expected Friday, July 31, only the brightest meteors will likely be visible. The meteor shower shows up as ‘shooting stars’ and can be seen anywhere in the sky, but the southern sky has the best view. 

On Friday, July 31, a full moon will light up the sky and Venus and Jupiter will appear close in the western sky. While the full moon will be visible from almost anywhere as it rises over the valleys, a dark location after midnight and into the early morning hours will be best for viewing the meteor shower. 

Find a dark place away from city lights, lay back and let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Soon you will be able to see a multitude of stars and hopefully some ‘shooting stars’ as well.

Logan Lake Day 2015

Logan Lake Day is a FREE family friendly event that runs all day on Sunday, August 2nd 2015. Admission is free to all attractions!

http://www.loganlakeday.com/

Position Available: Citizens on Patrol Program

Photo by San Jose Library https://flic.kr/p/6PPZyD

The Citizens on Patrol Program (COP) involves keeping a neighbourly watch over communities in an effort to reduce crime. In Lac Le Jeune, Coleen Krawchuk and Carolyn Chandler have been liaising with Logan Lake RCMP and other COP volunteers, and patrolling the area to watch for any unusual activity.

Carolyn will be stepping down from this position, which means we are looking for a volunteer to accompany Coleen on the regular patrols around Lac Le Jeune. The role of Citizens on Patrol is to simply observe and report back to the police anything that might require follow-up. This volunteer position requires four hours per month, and you would be contributing to the safety of our community -- a very important job!

If you are interested in volunteering please get in touch with Coleen or any of the LLJ Conservation Association reps.

The LLJ Community would like to thank Carolyn Chandler for her work with COP!

Learn to Fish

This Learn to Fish program is already underway, but there are still more opportunities this summer to bring your kids to park for a hands-on lesson. Here's what they'll learn (from the GoFishBC website) 

• Fish identification and biology 
• Habitat and conservation 
• Rods, reels, lines and tackle 
• Knot tying Proper fish handling and ethics 
• Safety and fishing regulations 
• Casting and retrieving 
• Where, when and how to catch fish 
• Hands on fishing (all tackle and equipment provided)

The Western Toad migration has begun!

This is a repost from last year. Thanks to Sonia Walczak and Monica Mattfeld for passing along the word that the migration has begun. It's happening early this year!

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These little guys migrate across Lac Le Jeune Road, starting around the Michell Ranch for about 1 km south, every mid to late August. The migration takes a few days.

If all residents took the Coquihalla during these few days there would be many less toads being killed on the road as they cross. They are so small right now I’m sure many people don’t even notice them on the road.

Today I saw 2 biologists meeting with the Ministry of Transportation to see if we can build a culvert for the toads to use to cross the road.

Western Toads are on the provincial Yellow List, and are considered a species of conservation concern!

Visit the “frogwatch” website for more information.

Grab and Go Kit

During wildfire season it's important to be prepared to evacuate on short notice. Here are some suggestions for a grab-and-go bag to keep in your home or car, published on the new PreparedBC emergency preparedness website.

• ¢ Food (ready to eat) and water
• ¢ Flashlight and batteries, headlamp 
• ¢ AM/FM radio
  
• ¢ Medication(s)
  
• ¢ Seasonal clothing
  
• ¢ Blanket
  
• ¢ Pen and notepad
  
• ¢ Cell phone charger
  
• ¢ Personal toiletries
• ¢ Small first aid kit
• ¢ Extra pair of glasses or contacts
• ¢ Cash in small bills
• ¢ Local map
• ¢ Whistle
• ¢ Out-of-area contact card
• ¢ Copies of important documents, family photos, etc. Consider storing copies on a USB stick

TIP: Always keep your vehicle’s gas tank half full in case you’re required to evacuate on short notice. 

They're here...

The new mailboxes have been installed, along with fresh notices about where to pick up your keys (Rexall Drugs). 

I'm assuming our mail that has been held at the Seymour Street Post Office will be placed in our new boxes, which would save us a trip to downtown Kamloops. In any case, it's best to check directly with Canada Post by phone if you're concerned about your mail: 1-800-267-1177

Tips for reduce your water use

photo by stacey.d https://flic.kr/p/5dqnuv

Kady Wong, an environmental geography student and Zero Waste Communications Assistant for the Simon Fraser University Sustainability Office, published the following tips for reducing water use. It is shared here with permission.

1. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge rather than letting your tap run to get cold water.
2. Water your gardens* in the morning to reduce water loss from evaporation. (And don’t over water them: They only need about one inch of water a week and this includes when it rains.)
3. Repair any leaky faucets and toilets. A single dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day!
4. Use recycled water from a rain barrel to water your plants.
5. Purchase native grasses, shrubs and trees as opposed to exotic plants. Native species require much less water.
6. Reuse your cooking water. After boiling water for pasta or washing vegetables, use the leftover water to water your garden. 
7. Only do a load of laundry or dishes when the load is full. 
8. Use a broom to clean walkways and driveways rather than hosing off these areas. 
9. Don’t use your toilet to dispose of waste. Flush only when necessary! 
10. Place a bucket in the shower when you’re waiting for the water to warm up. Use this clean water for cleaning or watering your plants. (And keep those showers short: Try for 5 minutes or less.)

* The original post suggested watering lawns in the morning as well. In a natural setting like Lac Le Jeune perhaps it is best to refrain from watering lawns entirely. 

Canada Post Notices, Deconstructed

For those of you who are trying to decipher how to get your mail now and in the future, I suggest you skip the notices and call Canada Post customer support network: 1-800-267-1177

We do have a report that the new keys are at the Rexall Drug Store location though!

Notice #1

Notice #2

Media Release: Wildfire Management Branch

Province on high alert with increased fire activity across B.C.

http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2415

7/6/2015 4:50 PM

VICTORIA - The Province is cautioning all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and report all wildfires to authorities as 184 active fires are being fought across British Columbia with 9 evacuation alerts and orders currently in effect, impacting over 800 homes. Twenty-seven new fires started in B.C. yesterday, with extreme fire hazard rating in many areas, and hot and dry weather conditions continuing to present challenges to firefighting efforts. British Columbians are urged to be responsible and abide by all fire bans and evacuation orders until conditions change. Campfire bans have now been implemented across the province. Failure to abide by the Wildfire Act, including open burning restrictions, can result in a $345 fine. Anyone who causes damage to Crown forest or grass land through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend up to three years in prison. Air quality status: If you see or smell smoke in the air, you're encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially people with chronic underlying medical conditions. Staying indoors and in air conditioned spaces helps to reduce fine particulate exposure. Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have underlying respiratory conditions - like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - or heart disease. For information on current air quality readings in B.C. please visit www.bcairquality.ca Supports for British Columbians impacted by wildfires: Emergency Social Services (ESS) support has been provided for over 200 people in B.C. due to the wildfires east of Kelowna and in Port Hardy. ESS is temporary public aid that provides up to 72 hours of essentials like lodging and food service, as well as emergency supplies and absolute necessities. Report all wildfires: Human-caused wildfires are preventable and the public is B.C.'s first line of defence against forest fires. Please be diligent when in the backcountry, and report all wildfires to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your mobile phone. Learn More: For current information on current wildfires and open burning prohibitions in your area, as well as fire safety tips, see: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/ and http://ow.ly/PfwC6 For current Evacuation Alerts and Orders in B.C., see: www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca To learn about how to prevent wildfires and what to do if your community receives an Evacuation Alert or Order, visit: http://ow.ly/PfsPl and http://ow.ly/PftLE The Homeowner's FireSmart Manual helps inform people on how to reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires: http://ow.ly/PfpqL To keep up-to-date on emergency alerts & notices, follow @EmergencyInfoBC (https://mobile.twitter.com/EmergencyInfoBC?max_id=505511422928093184) on Twitter. Media Contacts: For wildfire information: BC Wildfire Service Media Relations 250 312-3051 or Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Media Relations 250 356-5261 For air quality questions: Media Relations Ministry of Environment 250 953-3834 Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

News Release: Ban on all open burning

From the BC Wildfire Website
http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=2396

Campfires, open fires and fireworks banned throughout B.C.

7/3/2015 9:39 AM

KAMLOOPS - Effective at noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, July 3, 2015, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited throughout the majority of the province, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified. This extraordinary step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. Unseasonably hot and dry weather is being experienced around the province and any preventable, human-caused fires divert critical personnel and resources from other incidents. The BC Wildfire Service is responding to over 150 active fires in the province. Campfires will still be allowed in the area known as the "Fog Zone" along the western coast of Vancouver Island. A map of the area covered by this open burning prohibition and campfire ban is available online at: http://bit.ly/1IyUZG4 This ban applies to: - open fires of any size, including campfires; - the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches; - burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description; - the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice); and - the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems). This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 centimetres or less. The use of this equipment may be prohibited locally and at a later time if deemed necessary so check "current fire bans" online at: www.bcwildfire.ca The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet the conditions noted above is prohibited. This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire. The "Fog Zone" is a two-kilometre-wide strip along the outer coast of Vancouver Island, stretching from Owen Point (near Port Renfrew) north to the tip of Vancouver Island and around to the boundary of the District of Port Hardy. This strip extends inland two kilometres from the high-tide point. A map of the Fog Zone is available online at: http://bit.ly/1GMvwnU Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. Quote: Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson - "We're committed to safeguarding B.C.'s families, natural resources and infrastructure from wildfires. Given the hot and dry conditions in most of the province, we are implementing this provincewide campfire ban to help protect our communities." Learn more: For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca You can also follow the latest wildfire news: - On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo - On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo