Whitehorse, YT – Water samples taken by the Yukon Government indicate low levels of cyanide contamination meanwhile Victoria Gold says they have not detected any traces of cyanide following a heap leach failure at the site on June 24th.
During a technical briefing on July 4th, the Yukon Government said three of four samples taken at various points downstream of the mine show low cyanide levels at 0.001 milligrams per litre and lower, but in Haggsrt Creek cyanide levels reached 0.04 milligrams per litre which could affect fish. Fish toxicity testing is underway.
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Sudit Ranade says they don’t recommend recreational use of the area in the ‘immediate vicinity’ of Haggart Creek but have not issued any specific recommendations against drinking the water as they stated it’s not a primary drinking source.
Testing at the heap leach site shows 8.58 milligrams per litre of cyanide contamination at the bottom of the slide. Victoria Gold has built dams to contain the contaminants being pumped into storage ponds.
Water samples will continue to be taken every two days with a quality assurance sample taken every ten samples to ensure reliable results.
In a release from Victoria Gold stating they have “not detected any cyanide,” they also announced they have received Notices of Default from its lenders.
They added that they are committed to “the continued safety of its employees and mitigation of harm to the environment.”
While the company continues to work on the site, Mark Smith, a heap leach specialist, said, “I think the risk of secondary failures or triggering failures is pretty significant, especially as head into the summer wet season.”
Government officials added that Victoria Gold and the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources are actively monitoring the risks of a secondary slide.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker did not directly comment on whether the government will commit to the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation’s recent demands to stop all mining in their traditional territory or launch an independent investigation.
