The Yukon NDP is lambasting the territorial government over its handling of the Victoria Gold Corp. disaster at its Eagle Gold Mine north of Mayo.

“The opposition briefing yesterday was the first time we heard directly from the government,” party leader Kate White said in a prepared statement Thursday afternoon. “Which is of grave concern, because it has now been 3 ½  weeks since this disaster occurred.”

She added, “During this briefing, we heard from the government that there is a real risk that contaminated water will spill from the Eagle Gold ponds before there is adequate water storage or treatment to prevent it. To date, Yukoners have not heard a clear plan or timeline from the government or the company on how they will mitigate this risk.”

The mine suffered an extremely serious landslide after its heap leach pad collapsed on June 24, triggering the avalanche.

More than four million tonnes of material fell, approximately half of which is out of containment.

The heap leach pad contained an unknown amount of cyanide, which is used to separate the gold from the ore-bearing soil.

It’s feared that cyanide will contaminate the environment nearby, particularly the settlements in the area in Mayo, the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun and Keno City.

“Yukoners are being told that the company does not have the ability to contain or treat the contaminated water effectively,” White said. “This is a failure of this government to regulate the mine.

“The lack of foresight from the government as the regulator has put Yukoners, wildlife, and the environment at risk, and that is inexcusable.”

Cabinet communications staff provided this response to The Yukon Star: “The Yukon government is focused on the response at Eagle Gold Mine. We are committed to protecting the environment and the safety of people, and we are providing information to all members of the public as it becomes available to us.

“We will continue to be open and transparent.”

Victoria Gold has failed to return media requests for comment since the disaster occurred. Most of its employees at the site were immediately laid off.

On Thursday, Lauren Haney, the government’s deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, didn’t rule out the government eventually taking over the site, which was developed about 90 kilometres northeast of Mayo.