Enhanced environmental monitoring is now taking place at the Wolverine Mine site, in response to a suspected leak at the tailings storage facility.
The Wolverine Mine was an underground mine that operated from 2009 until 2015, when it was abandoned by its operator, Yukon Zinc Corp. The Government of Yukon is now responsible for the mine site and conducts environmental monitoring and inspections of the site infrastructure on a regular basis.
Contaminants were detected in water flowing through pipes beneath the tailings facility that is discharged to the environment.
Contractors and consultants have increased inspections and monitoring efforts to gather more information and determine next steps.
Elevated levels of zinc, cadmium, selenium and cyanide were identified in the discharge. The zinc levels exceed the federal Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations.
Additional water samples collected on November 6, 2024, from discharge pipes and downstream locations passed acute toxicity tests, indicating no immediate harm to human health or aquatic life.
As the territory’s mining regulator, the Government of Yukon’s top priority is protecting the environment. Enhanced monitoring is ongoing and future actions are being planned based on collected data.
Prior to detecting the issue, the Government of Yukon was already preparing for a two-year water treatment campaign beginning in spring 2025. This campaign aims to lower water levels in the tailings storage facility, allowing for liner inspections to seek to determine the cause of the suspected leak. Funding for the campaign is subject to legislative approval.
The mine is located approximately halfway between Watson Lake and Ross River, in the asserted traditional territory of the Kaska Nation. The Government of Yukon has informed the Ross River Dena Council and Liard First Nation and is working to collect data to determine what additional interim mitigation measures should be implemented.
John Thompson
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-332-6042
[email protected]