Chappy, great post. This seems like the most reasonable explanation for what went on.
As a non-geo, can you explain to me why the mine plan takes so long to devise. I understand that there are a lot of different issues involved but with the power of computers and software these days, I would think that it shouldn't be as massive an undertaking as it seems to be.
From your own p.c., you're able to create unbelievable maps, pictures etc. in a matter of hours to help us non-technical people understand what CUU is telling us in their NRs. I'm sure that a mine plan is more involved but if Tetra Teck is already so late and catching so much flack for this, it seems unfathomable to an outsider that they wouldn't be able to push this along in a shorter timeframe.