Water contained
Whereas Mulligan mentioned not all the groundwater flowing by means of the Eagle web site is captured, there isn’t any proof but that contaminated groundwater is coming into Haggart Creek, which flows away from Eagle.
Consuming water can also be protected for now, mentioned Yukon’s chief medical officer of well being Dr. Sudit Ranade.
“The consuming water system that’s regulated continues to be not in danger and so that isn’t a priority at this second,” he mentioned.
Friday’s information briefing dealt solely with water pattern outcomes and never the continued clear up effort on the mine, the place the Yukon authorities was final reported to have employed contractors to construct a berm to guard groundwater wells.
Fish kill from discharge
A discharge of water from a therapy plant at Eagle final Friday led to the invention of 68 lifeless Arctic grayling and sculpin fish in Haggart Creek, senior fisheries biologist Cameron Sinclair mentioned. Victoria started discharging the water on July 31.
When Victoria found the lifeless fish, it instantly stopped discharging water.
“The lifeless fish that had been noticed this week are believed to be because of the discharge from the mine’s water therapy plant and never immediately because of the contaminants that we’ve been seeing within the receiving setting,” Sinclair mentioned.
Though the fish kill is an anticipated end result of cyanide toxicity, chief veterinary officer Dr. Mary Vanderkop mentioned, the excellent news is that cyanide doesn’t bioaccumulate. If different wildlife eat these fish, it doesn’t pose a danger to them or to the setting.
Requested if the fish killed was attributable to one thing going improper with the discharge, Division of Vitality, Mines and Assets spokesperson Devon Seaman mentioned by electronic mail that Victoria had the authority to discharge water if the water was compliant with it’s water licence standards.
The federal government additionally directed Victoria on Tuesday to submit lab outcomes exhibiting its water meets licensed standards earlier than it may discharge water once more, Seaman added. The federal Division of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was knowledgeable of the fish kill and Victoria was ordered to do mitigation efforts, akin to constructing fish limitations in Haggart Creek, and salvaging fish downstream.
Victoria has frozen and stored the 68 lifeless fish. Sinclair mentioned DFO and Surroundings and Local weather Change Canada would take the lead in case of an extra investigation of the fish deaths. Yukon’s setting division may also pursue its personal investigation.
Floor water samples haven’t returned regarding concentrations of heavy metals, however the authorities has launched a wildlife surveillance program to observe heavy metals that may have been launched into the setting after the Eagle accident, Vanderkop mentioned.
Not like cyanide, which dissipates shortly when uncovered to warmth, mild and fast-moving water, heavy metals can accumulate over years, she mentioned.
The federal government is asking hunters in sport administration zones north of Mayo to gather kits and take tissue and bone samples from animal carcasses and submit them to the federal government to check for heavy metals.