Mining

Vision: That mining in the Yukon occurs only in places where such activities are ecologically and culturally acceptable. Where mining occurs, it will be based on need for the metal, on sound economics, and it will be done in a way that ensures that perpetual treatment is not necessary. Abandoned mine sites will be cleaned up.

Public Eye Radio- British Columbia's only weekly radio show covering politics in Canada's westernmost province, hosted Sunday mornings on CFAX 1070 by award-winning investigative journalist Sean Holman - the Sun Jan 22 2012 podcast includes Yukon Conservation Society mining coorindator Lewis Rifkind talking about how an increase in commodity prices is leading to a mining boom in his territory.

Curious to see how much of the Yukon has been staked thanks to the free entry system (which assumes mining is the first and best possible use of the land, irrespective of any other economic interests and values)? Check out this map:

Map and Animation Courtesy of Chris McKnight

this is a visual graphic and must not be considered a legal claim map

 

Recent YCS activities, papers and letters on mining issues

It's been a busy 2011. Here's some projects that YCS submitted comments on:

 

September Update: There has been discussion in the local media regarding Yukon mineral royalty rates. Below are some letters and articles that might be of interest:

  • Raise the royalty rates (examines the low Yukon mineral royalty rates and tries to analysesthe new Federal transfer agreement)
  • Yukon royalty rates (looks at how low Yukon royalty rates are in light of a NRCan study)

Of General Interest:

White Gold: Where the White and Yukon Rivers meet there has been a massive quartz claim staking rush for gold. This has been getting a lot of national media attention, mainly focused on how the Klondike has been reborn and the good old days are back.

Western Copper vs. YWB: Victory!!! The Yukon Supreme Court has upheld the Yukon Water Board’s right to not issue a water license for the proposed sulfuric acid heap leach mine, even though YESAB allowed it to proceed. YCS and Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation were among the respondents in the Supreme Court case. 

Slinky Mine: These are the placer claims being developed on the Dawson Dome Road. It’s opened up the whole free entry discussion. There have been so many court injunctions, government orders and Dawson City council decisions it’s not quite clear what is going on, apart from the fact the placer miner is continuing to operate and rip apart the Dome Road.

Tombstone Park claims: Victory!!! In 2010 YTG actually agreed with YESAB to NOT permit this particular project to proceed.

YCS letter to YTG EMR re: decision document based on Tombstone Mining YESAB recommendation - August 10th, 2010

  • above letter has three attachements:
  • mining inspection reports for Canadian United Minerals (titled EMR-MLU Horn Claims)
  • correspondence regarding mining land use permit for Coulee Resources (two documents, one titled EMR-CS&I and the other EMR-MLU).

YCS press release on the proposed exploration in Tombstone Park - July 14th, 2010

YCS second set of comments on the proposed exploration in Tombstone Park - July 09th, 2010

YCS comments on proposed mineral exploration in Tombstone Park - June 24th, 2010

YCS comments on proposed access road to Rau proporty north-east of Keno - June 03, 2010

YCS comments on proposed exploration in the Ruby Range - March 30 2010

YCS comments on proposed Mactung tungsten Mine - December 7th, 2009

- Article on potential negative health impacts of tungsten (submitted with above letter re Mactung mine)

YCS comments on proposed Yukon Quartz Mining Act Royalty Regulations - June 23rd, 2009

YCS letter-to-editor urging a Yukon Uranium Moratorium - June 9th, 2009

YCS Mining Goals:

  1. To ensure that new mines in the Yukon do not have toxic environmental impacts and minimize impacts from other issues like access and social issues.
  2. To support First Nations and communities faced with mining developments in their efforts to protect the environment, traditional uses, and their communities.
  3. To replace the Yukon's Free Entry system for mining exploration with a system that protects First Nations rights, sensitive environments, and other economic interests.
This page was last updated January 30th, 2012