Yukon government has committed to investigating the heap leach failure at the Eagle mine site. Photo: APTN News
The Yukon government says it is committed to investigating last month’s heap-leach failure at the Eagle Mine site.
Yukon’s Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker said the government is taking the situation seriously.
“We should learn lessons out of this situation,” he told a news conference Thursday. “We never want a mine that fails like this.
“No government, no First Nations’ government, no mine company wants this type of failure.”
Streicker was referring to the landlside at the mine on June 24. That’s when the company says a portion of the mine’s heap-leach facility collapsed and released contaminated water.
Victoria Gold owns the mine that is located 85 km from the community of Mayo, home to the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun.
The Nation has called for an independent investigation and the immediate halt to mining in its territory.
Victoria Gold isn’t doing any media interviews.
Streicker said the government would likely hire outside experts to help with the investigation as it did right after the slide.
Streicker said the next step is consulting with Na-Cho Nyäk Dun to determine “an appropriate approach” and clarifying their request for a halt to mining activity.
No cyanide detected
Streicker noted that recent sampling shows no traces of cyanide in Haggart Creek, two km downstream of the mine.
Government officials confirm 0.04 milligrams per litre of cyanide were detected in samples taken from the creek last week.
Streicker said cyanide at that level is high enough to cause adverse effects to fish depending on other containments in the water.
The Department of Environment is now working with Na-Cho Nyäk Dun to develop a long-term monitoring program for fish in the surrounding tributaries of the creek’s watershed.
Tyler Williams, a government water resources scientist, said water samples collected on June 25 and June 26 were sent to a lab to examine acute effects on fish. The samples from juvenile rainbow trout showed no changes to behavior or mortality, he noted.
Benton Foster, director of the territory’s community health programs, said water downstream of the site poses a low risk to human health.
He said the government is currently conducting human health assessments to determine if the water might cause health effects going forward. The department is advising people not to drink water or consume fish from Haggart Creek as a precaution.
Inspection orders
On July 10, the government issued an inspector’s direction ordering Victoria Gold to take immediate measures to increase its water storage capacity on site.
It follows a previous order from July 5 containing four directives, including submitting a plan to stabilize the slide area below the heap-leach embankment.
Failure to comply with an order is considered an offence.
Erin Dowd, acting director of mineral resources, said as long as the company complies with orders the government won’t tap into its $104 million surety bond.
“That’s what the security is there for. Until such a time that the company’s not taking actions, we won’t be drawing on the security,” she said.
Streicker said it’s still not yet clear what caused the slide.
