In its first real actions against the Victoria Gold Corp. over the June 24 landslide at the Eagle Mine, the Yukon government has issued a series of orders to be fulfilled this week.

In an inspector’s report, the government gave Victoria Gold a number of instructions on how to handle its remediation efforts at the mine north of Mayo. The report was sent to the company on July 5. 

“This document constitutes an Inspector’s Direction, issued pursuant to section 35 (1) of the Waters Act, 2003, c.19,” the report states.

It goes on to say there are reasonable grounds for belief that Victoria Gold Corp. contravened Section 38 (1) (a), and that a danger to the environment may reasonably be expected to result for reasons outlined below.

According to the report, these reasons are:

1. On June 24, a portion of the heap leach facility collapsed, breaching containment and resulting in the release of material and contaminated water to the surrounding environment.

2. On June 25, natural resources officers with the Compliance, Monitoring and Inspections Branch of the Yukon government inspected the site and collected water samples at various locations in the immediate downstream of Dublin Gulch and Haggart Creek.

During the inspection, it was observed that sloughed heap material had flowed downstream throughout the Dublin Gulch valley beyond containment structures. It was also noted that heap solution associated with the sloughed heap materials likely escaped containment and potentially infiltrated into the underlying placer tailings affecting groundwater in the Dublin Gulch valley and downstream environment. 

“The stability of the sloughed materials as well as the materials that remain in the heap leach pad remains uncertain, and poses a significant risk to persons on site and the surrounding environment,” the report says.

“The steep face of the materials that remain in the heap leach pad poses a risk of additional collapse and could potentially cause additional mobilization of contaminated materials and heap solution.”

An analysis of the samples collected June 25 indicated the water exceeded the effluent quality standards specified in the company’s water licence in contravention of the Waters Act.

“The contaminants contained in the water (cyanide, metals and others of concern) are known to affect fish and have the potential to affect humans if ingested in sufficient quantity.”

The report has ordered the following measures to be taken by the company.

Victoria Gold must “prepare and submit a plan to install groundwater interception systems in Dublin Gulch, somewhere between the toe of the slide and at (or near) the lined check dam named DG 1.5,” the report says. 

“The purpose of this plan is to describe how to intercept and collect any water flow, including groundwater, in the placer tailings in Dublin Gulch below the toe of the slide and should also include the conveyance of this water to appropriate storage location(s).

“The plan must include specifics of the installation sufficient for field construction and commissioning, including a list of all materials required.”

That plan was to be submitted by July 9.

The company must also prepare and submit a plan for the temporary physical stabilization of the slide area immediately below the heap leach embankment. 

“This stabilization plan should achieve physical separation of the slide, such that the lower flow slide below the heap leach embankment can be isolated and remediation can be done safely,” the report says. 

“This may include a waste rock buttress across Dublin Gulch just below the northeast corner of the events pond that can be enlarged in the future as needed.”

That plan is to be submitted by Thursday.

As well, Victoria Gold must submit a plan to expand existing surface water and groundwater monitoring to adequately assess and manage impacted and at-risk locations. That plan was to be submitted on the past Monday.

The company has to submit a water treatment plan as well.

The report further warns “you are legally obligated to comply with this direction. Failure to comply is an offence.

“Please be advised that if you do not comply with this Inspector’s Direction, under s. 35 (3) an inspector may take the measures set out in this direction and you may be required to pay any costs incurred in doing so.”

Government spokesperson John Thompson said Victoria Gold met both those deadlines scheduled for earlier this week.

The government has scheduled a media briefing on the situation for Thursday morning.