The Yukon Water Board is expecting it will need technical support to potentially carry out investigations, audits, a public inquiry and a public hearing as it reviews the water licence for Victoria Gold’s Eagle Gold Mine which suffered a landslide breaching its heap leach facility on June 24. The company behind the mine was placed in receivership in August.
Thus, a request for proposals has been issued to obtain technical support.
So far, the Yukon government has only confirmed and named an independent review board to investigate the causes and factors contributing to the major mine incident on the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND).
“Once we have the opportunity to review the independent board’s findings, we will be in a better position to contemplating future steps,” Jordan Owens in Yukon government cabinet communications said by email.
In the meantime, the Yukon Water Board Secretariat is looking for technical review services to help with Yukon Water Board proceedings and to support the board’s review of the project’s water licence, according to the request for proposal on the Yukon government’s bids and tenders website.
Four-million tons of ore slid down the embankment and pushed about two-million tons of ore material containing cyanide solution outside the containment area during the June 24 slide, as noted in the bid documents.
Since the slide, the understanding is that the solution from the facility, containing cyanide and other contaminants, has drained through the displaced ore and potentially poses “significant environmental risks” to surface and groundwater networks in the area, per the documents.
Holding kick-off and check-in meetings with the secretariat, drafting reports and presentations and attending board meetings is part of the work being tendered. Those who want the job should plan to be in Whitehorse if a public inquiry or public hearing is held, the documents note.
The documents indicate the work could require 420 to 480 hours of time in.
The Yukon government provided another update on activities at the mine site and fish monitoring in a press release issued Sept. 10.
There have been no new reports of dead fish in Haggart Creek, per the release. Tissue samples gathered from fish will be analyzed for heavy metal contamination beginning soon, with results expected by early 2025.
The previous week, Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued an order to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the court-appointed receiver for Victoria Gold, regarding previously installed fish fences.
“These additional measures will support migration while still protecting fish adjacent to the mine site,” reads the release.
“Conversations are ongoing to ensure mitigation measures do not disrupt the fall migration of these freshwater fish.”
A new camp for people to sleep at the mine has been set up since the original and temporary camps put up by Victoria Gold were deemed unsafe.
The new camp was needed before Pelly Construction workers could start building the safety berm, according to the release. Work on the berm will begin soon. The berm will allow for safe installation of more groundwater wells.
“Precautions are being taken to protect workers building the berm,” reads the release.
“This includes having on-site monitoring to detect any slope instability and having plans in place to stop work and move workers away from an area if new slide movement is observed.”
Seven groundwater wells have been set up between the slide and Haggart Creek, with more in the works, per the release. The wells inform monitoring and intercepting contaminated groundwater, with initial water quality results expected to be available in the next two weeks.
Given that the current water storage capacity isn’t enough, the release notes additional lined storage ponds are works in progress.
“Low and non-detect concentrations of cyanide” were seen at all surface monitoring locations in Haggart Creek, according to the release. The levels of weak acid dissociable cyanide from Aug. 21 to Aug. 28 is “well below the relevant guideline for the protection of aquatic life,” which is 0.005 mg/L.
“This is still a dynamic situation that always has the potential to change and water monitoring in the receiving environment is ongoing,” reads the government press release.
According to an open letter from the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun to the Yukon government and Yukoners regarding the Eagle Gold Mine “crisis,” the First Nation is still “grieving the impacts.”
The letter suggests the slide didn’t occur in a vacuum. It was preceded by multiple warning signs including a January slide and ongoing water storage and management issues.
The letter questions what steps the Yukon government took — if any — to respond to these earlier “red flags.”
In the letter, the First Nation claims the Yukon government ignored its offer — and didn’t even respond — to co-govern an independent review in a revised terms of reference sent to government on Aug. 27.
The review was announced Aug. 30.
The First Nation believes the review falls short.
The First Nation is calling for a public inquiry that examines how the Yukon government’s oversight may have factored into the incident. It also reiterated its demand for a halt to all mining activities including existing and proposed mineral staking, exploration and development on its traditional territory.
A press release from the Yukon NDP on Sept. 10 expresses the New Democrats' strong support for FNNND’s repeated calls for a “full independent public review” that goes beyond the “technical causes” and looks at the “systemic causes” of the disaster.
Yukon NDP Leader Kate White said she wants a full public inquiry with a much broader approach than the Yukon Liberals are taking, according to the release.
“Na-Cho Nyäk Dun’s territory has been forever affected by this disaster. The absolute least the government can do is ensure that the First Nation receives answers, and that there is accountability for this catastrophe,” White said in the release.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
