The Yukon government provided a detailed statement about the Eagle Mine incident on Wednesday afternoon, more than two days after the site was closed.

John Streicker, the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, released a prepared statement about the situation just 30 minutes before Premier Ranj Pillai was grilled about the mishap during a news conference on another subject.

“The Government of Yukon is closely monitoring the situation at the Eagle Gold mine, following the failure of the heap leach facility on Monday, June 24,” Streicker said in the statement.

“We had a variety of staff on site shortly after the failure occurred. Our mineral resources staff are helping to review the company’s plans for next steps to address the environmental and safety risks of the failure.

“Natural resource officers are assessing the site’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the mine’s licences,” Streicker said.

The Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board has also visited the site to help ensure worker safety, the minister noted.

A landslide damaged the heap leach pad. Much of what Streicker had to say in the statement resembled information provided more informally by government staff in the last few days.

“The company moved quickly following the slide to build dams to hold back contaminated water. This water is being pumped into storage ponds,” he said.

“Natural resource officers are monitoring water on site, and the Department of Environment continues to operate long-term water quality monitoring stations upstream and downstream of the mine.”

Streicker added, “It’s too early to speak to the cause of the heap leach failure. What’s clear at this point is that the failure involved a slide of the ore stacked in the heap leach facility. The slide caused ore to spill over the embankment at the base of the heap leach facility. The slide appears to have damaged some mine infrastructure.”

Environmental Health Services and Dr. Sudit Ranade, the territory’s chief medical officer of health, are monitoring the situation.

“Based on the information currently available and based on the location of the incident, the drinking water supply wells for the Village of Mayo are not impacted and the drinking water in Mayo is safe to drink,” Streicker said.

“Although we believe any potential risk is extremely low, out of an abundance of caution, Environmental Health Services will support the Village of Mayo in ongoing co-ordination of drinking water analyses to monitor for contaminants of concern until more is understood about the details of the event.”

Ranade, however, is away on vacation until next Tuesday. It’s unclear who from his office is handling the investigation in his absence.

Pillai echoed Streicker’s comments as he faced off with reporters late Wednesday afternoon.

“Our focus as a government has been to work very closely with the community first and foremost,” the premier said. 

“We’ve been in constant contact with the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun. We’ve also been in contact and communication with Mayor (Trevor) Ellis (of the Village of Mayo).”

Pillai said the government also wants to give Victoria Gold “a chance to understand what is going on on-site.”

He appeared to be unhappy with some of the media coverage – some of which is national – saying, “There have been some statements made pretty quickly, and I don’t think all the information they’ve shared has been accurate.

“We have to really make sure that the information we share is timely and accurate.”

He did not explicitly explain what he felt was inaccurate in the media coverage.

Pillai added that “making a statement while the process is a legal matter would not be appropriate.” He did not elaborate on the nature of the legal inquiry.

“It’s a situation that is going to take us a bit of time, first to ensure that we can safely get the information out that you need. We have a very disciplined approach.”

In response to a reporter’s question as to whether he’s concerned about the possibility of cyanide entering the drinking water of Mayo and Keno City residents, Pillai said, “Of course I’m concerned.”

He said mitigation efforts were put in place immediately.

Pillai also chided the reporter somewhat, saying it was “very important for media to be very disciplined” with the information they’re reporting.

“I know now that there has been containment, and I know that we’re sampling the water, and we should have those samples back early next week. We feel there has been strong containment, and we’re using the best possible technical support to make sure that what’s happened on-site has been contained.

“We recognize that many Yukoners are concerned about the potential environmental impacts of this failure. We are committed to working closely with the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun as we determine next steps. As a mining regulator, we remain committed to ensuring that the environment is protected, and that will guide our future actions at the site.”

A technical briefing on the mine is set for 10:30 a.m. Friday, provided by the government.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines provided The Yukon Star with a brief statement this morning.

“With respect to the incident at Eagle Gold, the Yukon Chamber of Mines is aware of the incident at Victoria Gold Corp’s Eagle Gold Mine and extend our care and appreciation that everyone is safe. We await further information, and until that time, defer comment to the company and the Government of Yukon,” the chamber said.

Randi Newton, the conservation manager  for CPAWS Yukon, didn’t hold back as to what she thinks of the situation.

“I’m upset and angry,” she told the Star today. “It looks like this might be a worst-case scenario.”

Newton called it a “possibly catastrophic situation.” She added she believes Victoria Gold wasn’t prepared for such an emergency.

There have been “inadequate updates” from both the company and the Yukon government, Newton said.

From photos she’s seen of the damage at the site, Newton said she believes the collection pipe system that contains the cyanide-laced wastewater may have been destroyed, making efforts to contain contaminants futile.

She is guessing the chances are good that the cyanide has likely percolated into the groundwater by now couldn’t be certain.

Newton wouldn’t offer an opinion as to whether the drinking water in nearby communities has been affected.

She said the only real solution might be to use a “time machine” to go back and stop the mine from being built.

“Many people have questioned the sanity of putting the heap leach pad on such a steep hill,” she said.