Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker has issued the following statement:
“We have carefully reviewed the report provided by the Independent Review Board tasked with examining the causes of the heap leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine. We believe that the recommendations of the board are strong and have begun work to implement all of them.
“The Government of Yukon will be taking several immediate actions to implement the report recommendations. As a first step, we will be reviewing all existing and pending quartz mine licences for alignment with the board’s recommendations. We will ensure new licence applicants are aware of the applicable recommendations and are able to integrate them into their regulatory plans prior to issuance of new licences. As well, we will notify existing licence holders of the recommendations, so that they can be integrated into ongoing and planned operations.
“We agree with the Independent Review Board that a review of the Guidelines for Mine Waste Management Facilities is warranted and have begun this review. The Yukon government will work with the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Yukon Chamber of Mines during this review process.
“As well, we have also begun work to retain subject matter experts to help improve our regulatory and enforcement oversight. We will also increase training of our staff in response to the Independent Review Board’s recommendations.
“Our commitment to implement these recommendations is an important step in rebuilding trust in the mining industry in the Yukon.
“The independent review was funded through the court-appointed receivership. The report’s authors are respected authorities in their fields, and their recommendations are sound and in line with industry practices in many other jurisdictions. We believe these recommendations will help strengthen the Government of Yukon’s approaches as a mining regulator and help prevent future failures.
“We will work closely with First Nations governments, industry and stakeholders throughout the implementation period to ensure there is transparency and certainty in our approach and expectations for delivery.”
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Over half of the Independent Review Board’s 56 recommendations can be captured in a revision to the Guidelines for Mine Waste Management Facilities. The guidelines outline the expectations and requirements for hard-rock mine waste management facilities in the Yukon.
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Several recommendations are captured within existing policy and guidance documents for major mining projects.
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Work is underway to understand how best to incorporate remaining recommendations into the Yukon government’s oversight of mining in the territory.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]