Victoria Gold failed to meet inspector's direction deadlines from the Yukon Government

Thursday, 25 July 2024 09:32

An aerial shot of Eagle Gold Mine on July 3, nine days after the heap leach failure. (Photo: Government of Yukon)

A Natural Resource Officer found an unlined excavation significantly smaller than the secure, lined storage facility the company was directed to install on July 10.

Victoria Gold has failed to meet the deadlines of inspector’s directions issued by the Government of Yukon.

According to a report from the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources earlier this week, Victoria Gold was directed to commission a lined water storage facility to hold up to 50,000 cubic metres of contaminated water on July 10. The deadline to complete the facility was July 15.

The report goes on to say that instead of a secure, lined storage facility, a Natural Resource Officer found an unlined excavation in the Dublin Gulch Valley significantly smaller than 50,000 cubic metres in size on July 17. Since the excavation was unlined, contaminated water would seep into groundwater and the downstream environment.

On July 20, inspectors directed Victoria Gold to build or acquire adequate water storage facilities by 10 o’clock Monday morning. The mining company was also directed not to discharge any contaminated water to an unlined storage facility or any other area without containment capacity.

The Yukon government did not respond to CHON-FM’s request for comment on whether Victoria Gold would meet the deadlines of the latest inspector’s direction.

Victoria Gold has not responded to any requests for comment from Yukon media since the heap leach failure on June 24.

In related news, Carcross/Tagish First Nation has issued a statement supporting the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun and White River First Nation in their demands for an independent investigation into the heap leach failure at Eagle Gold mine. Haa Sha Du Hen Maria Benoit said in the statement that C/TFN citizens will not support future mining projects within their traditional territory, either.

The First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun demanded a pause to mining activity on its traditional territory on July 3.

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