Victoria Gold Corporation's Eagle Mine heap leach failure

Our role as a regulator and enforcement body is to closely monitor the situation and, when appropriate, direct the receiver. The Government of Yukon is treating this as an emergency response, recognizing the potential impacts on people and the environment. Our key priorities are on-site safety and environmental protection.

January 3, 2025

The Government of Yukon provided an update on the containment pond issue at Eagle Gold. 

Containment pond investigation

• The Receiver identified irregular pond volumes and notified the Government of Yukon and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun about a potential leak.
• Temporary measures are in place to dilute pond water and reduce toxicity.

Environmental monitoring and water management

• Groundwater and surface water monitoring, including Haggart Creek, has increased to track potential impacts.
• Treated water is temporarily stored in the pond to prevent overflows of cyanide-contaminated water.
• Experts are assessing additional treatment options to lower copper levels in water discharge.

Ongoing efforts

• Investigations continue to determine the cause of the volume changes and to identify long-term solutions.
• The Yukon government will provide regular updates, and the latest water quality results are available on Yukon.ca.

December 13, 2024

The Government of Yukon updated Yukoners on ongoing remediation and environmental monitoring following the heap leach failure at Eagle Gold. Key points include:

Receivership order

• Court approved an amendment to the Receivership order on December 9, 2024, increasing the borrowing limit to $105 million to fund remediation until March 31, 2025.
• Additional funding will be drawn from Victoria Gold Corp.’s financial security held by the Government of Yukon.
• The Receiver’s second report on its activities was filed on November 28, 2024.

Independent review

• An Independent Review Board is investigating the heap leach failure and will release a public report.
• The board’s terms of reference are available on the Receiver’s website.

Inspector’s directions

• Directions were issued under the Quartz Mining Act and Waters Act requiring geotechnical investigations, stabilization plans, and water management strategies.
• A regulatory direction issued November 25 mandates water management plans and ongoing heap leach investigations.

Water monitoring

• Environmental monitoring continues, with updates available on Yukon.ca.

Leadership change

• Sierra van der Meer will serve as Acting Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources starting December 18, 2024, succeeding Lauren Haney.

November 22, 2024

The Government of Yukon updated Yukoners on ongoing remediation and environmental monitoring following the heap leach failure at Eagle Gold. Key points include:

Site remediation

• Construction of groundwater interception systems is complete, including 18 monitoring wells, 11 deep interception wells and large sumps. Further work may be undertaken as monitoring progresses.
• The new water treatment plant is nearing commissioning.
• Upcoming work includes water management, heap leach stability investigations and spring construction projects to meet regulatory requirements.

Environmental monitoring

• Contaminated groundwater continues to affect Haggart Creek. Cobalt and cyanide levels are rising while mercury levels have stabilized.
• Mercury and cobalt levels, along with most cyanide data, exceed the mine's water license quality objectives but current concentrations do not pose a risk to human health.
• Residents should avoid eating fish from the immediate area of the mine.

Communication and transparency

• Updates on remediation will shift to monthly releases during the winter with weekly water monitoring results still published on Yukon.ca. Interim updates will be issued if health and safety conditions change.
• Additional information is available on Yukon.ca and the Receiver's website: https://www.pwc.com/ca/victoriagold.

November 15, 2024

The Government of Yukon updated Yukoners on ongoing remediation and environmental monitoring following the heap leach failure at Eagle Gold. Key points include:

• Wells and systems are being installed to intercept and treat contaminated groundwater near Haggart Creek, with work expected to finish by the end of November.
• A new water treatment plant is nearing completion, and winter plans focus on water management and heap leach stability.

• Contaminated groundwater has reached Haggart Creek, with mercury, cyanide, and cobalt levels exceeding water quality objectives.
• Methyl mercury, which can bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife, was detected for the first time. Additional sampling is planned.
• While contamination exceeds standards, it does not pose a significant health risk. Residents should avoid eating fish from the immediate mine area.

November 4, 2024

The Government of Yukon updated Yukoners on ongoing remediation and environmental monitoring following the heap leach failure at Eagle Gold. Key points include:

• Support for employees: current employees and former employees are receiving services and supports.
• Environmental compliance: nearly all inspector-directed actions are complete or ongoing; final groundwater interception systems are under construction.
• Site remediation: completion of a safety berm and new water storage pond (adding up to 309,000 m³ storage capacity). Work continues on groundwater interception and water treatment, with mid-November as the target completion.
• Water quality monitoring: Haggart Creek tests show elevated mercury, cobalt, and cyanide from contaminated groundwater. While mercury levels exceed thresholds, they do not pose a public health risk. Further monitoring is underway.

See previous updates

Department of Energy, Mines and Resources: [email protected]

Department of Environment: [email protected]

Employment Standards Office: [email protected] or 867-667-5944

Environmental Health Services: [email protected] or 867-667-8391

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board - [email protected] or 867-667-5645

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