Statement from Minister Streicker on the release of the Independent Review Board report on the Eagle Gold Mine heap leach failure

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker has issued the following statement:

“Since the catastrophic heap leach failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, our government has been focused on public safety, remediating the environment and protecting fish and wildlife.

“Today, the final report of the Independent Review Board is available online. The board was appointed to assess the heap leach failure that occurred at the Eagle Gold Mine on June 24, 2024. The report outlines the technical causes of the incident and offers recommendations aimed at improving mining oversight and minimizing future risks.

“I want to thank the members of the board for their expertise and thorough work. These are respected technical professionals who were supported by additional specialists to complete this review. Their work was fully independent from government, funded through the court-supervised receivership process for Eagle Gold.

“Our government is thoroughly reviewing the board’s findings and strong recommendations and we are committed to taking appropriate action in response. We are also seeing encouraging signs on site, with cyanide, mercury and other contaminant levels decreasing. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the response and remediation efforts. As we determine the path forward, we will remain focused on making meaningful improvements that enhance the Yukon’s mining practices and ensure they meet the highest standards of environmental stewardship and public safety.

“The Receiver, First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun and the Yukon government have all received an initial technical briefing of the report by the Independent Review Board. To ensure further transparency and ongoing engagement, we have requested technical briefings for First Nations governments, opposition MLAs, industry representatives, environmental groups and the media. These briefings are being scheduled based on the review board’s soonest availability.

“The report makes clear that multiple factors contributed to the heap leach failure, but that overall a layer of ore within the heap was not draining as it should and the layer above it became saturated, leading to the catastrophic slide. From the outset, we have said that we needed this report before making any decisions about a potential public inquiry. Now that we have the information, we will review it thoroughly and determine the appropriate next steps.

“We will have more to say soon on how these findings may help to shape the future of mining in the Yukon, but our intent is clear: we can all learn from this incident and must continue working to ensure responsible, sustainable mining for the benefit of all Yukoners.

“We are incredibly fortunate that this incident did not result in the loss of life – another stark reminder of what’s at stake and why this work matters."