Why is this a crisis?
The heap leach facility failure at Eagle Gold is an environmental catastrophe. The failure resulted from a suspected infrastructure breakdown that caused cyanide solution used to extract gold to escape its containment area. As a result, an unknown amount of cyanide solution entered groundwater and the downstream creeks and rivers. A significant amount of cyanide solution remains on the site in a precarious condition. Currently, the site lacks effective on-site cyanide treatment or adequate wastewater storage, so coming rains and storms threaten to runoff or leach cyanide solution directly into creeks and rivers. Because of the unstable conditions at the site, the possibility of another sudden failure of the heap leach facility cannot be ruled out. Until the cyanide solution is properly contained and the site is stabilized, there remains an unacceptable risk of continued serious harm to the environment.
Additionally, there are significant concerns about existing metals in the heap leach solution, which could cause long-term contamination in the surrounding ecosystem.
Currently, cyanide is the primary concern as it is a highly toxic substance that presents dangers to the environment and human health. It is especially lethal to fish and other aquatic life. Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world killed fish hundreds of kilometres down rivers. Cyanide kills fish and other aquatic life by interfering with respiration. Even at lower toxicity levels, it can cause long-term damage to fish swimming ability, feeding, growth, and reproduction. Juvenile fish are especially susceptible to the toxin.
On August 2, 2024, 68 dead fish were discovered in Haggart Creek. Monitoring data later revealed unsafe levels of cyanide were released from the Eagle Gold water treatment plant into the creek around that time. We also strongly suspect that some cyanide leaked into Haggart Creek from the site at unsafe levels in the weeks after the failure. We do not know what impact this had on fish and other aquatic life, although no dead fish were found in connection with these leaks. FNNND is monitoring fish, other aquatic life, and fish habitat to understand the impacts.
Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world have also led to large kills of birds, likely because of birds drinking contaminated water. The effects of cyanide are sometimes delayed because stomach acids of birds may free up additional cyanide from less immediately lethal compounds.
This area of the FNNND Traditional Territory is of vital cultural importance. As the "big river people that come from these ancestral waters,” the waterways are integral to FNNND's way of life, Traditional economies, and cultural vibrancy. Since the implementation of the Yukon First Nation moratorium on fishing Chinook Salmon in April 2024, the importance of and reliance on other fish species such as Arctic Grayling has increased. Due to the high population of Arctic Grayling in Haggart Creek, this environmental crisis risks the integrity of this species, and FNNND’s way of life. The extent of harm to fish is not yet known. FNNND is monitoring with other authorities to better understand this.
Wild mammals are also exposed to cyanide spills from drinking contaminated water. A variety of mammals have been killed by cyanide poisoning at contaminated sites elsewhere in the world. As FNNND continues to monitor our environment, special attention will be paid to terrestrial animals and their wellbeing.
Water connects us all. We are all reliant on the water for our survival. Our waters are our matriarchs. They are our mothers, our aunties, our grandmothers. When one of our waters are harmed or threatened, we all feel it. We all grieve. As a result of this disaster, our waterways and our lands have been contaminated. The path forward is unclear, but as we embark upon the work to clean up our lands, it will be work that is focused on healing. Healing our lands and ourselves from how we must continue to muster resilience in the face of colonization.
Additionally, there are significant concerns about existing metals in the heap leach solution, which could cause long-term contamination in the surrounding ecosystem.
Currently, cyanide is the primary concern as it is a highly toxic substance that presents dangers to the environment and human health. It is especially lethal to fish and other aquatic life. Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world killed fish hundreds of kilometres down rivers. Cyanide kills fish and other aquatic life by interfering with respiration. Even at lower toxicity levels, it can cause long-term damage to fish swimming ability, feeding, growth, and reproduction. Juvenile fish are especially susceptible to the toxin.
On August 2, 2024, 68 dead fish were discovered in Haggart Creek. Monitoring data later revealed unsafe levels of cyanide were released from the Eagle Gold water treatment plant into the creek around that time. We also strongly suspect that some cyanide leaked into Haggart Creek from the site at unsafe levels in the weeks after the failure. We do not know what impact this had on fish and other aquatic life, although no dead fish were found in connection with these leaks. FNNND is monitoring fish, other aquatic life, and fish habitat to understand the impacts.
Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world have also led to large kills of birds, likely because of birds drinking contaminated water. The effects of cyanide are sometimes delayed because stomach acids of birds may free up additional cyanide from less immediately lethal compounds.
This area of the FNNND Traditional Territory is of vital cultural importance. As the "big river people that come from these ancestral waters,” the waterways are integral to FNNND's way of life, Traditional economies, and cultural vibrancy. Since the implementation of the Yukon First Nation moratorium on fishing Chinook Salmon in April 2024, the importance of and reliance on other fish species such as Arctic Grayling has increased. Due to the high population of Arctic Grayling in Haggart Creek, this environmental crisis risks the integrity of this species, and FNNND’s way of life. The extent of harm to fish is not yet known. FNNND is monitoring with other authorities to better understand this.
Wild mammals are also exposed to cyanide spills from drinking contaminated water. A variety of mammals have been killed by cyanide poisoning at contaminated sites elsewhere in the world. As FNNND continues to monitor our environment, special attention will be paid to terrestrial animals and their wellbeing.
Water connects us all. We are all reliant on the water for our survival. Our waters are our matriarchs. They are our mothers, our aunties, our grandmothers. When one of our waters are harmed or threatened, we all feel it. We all grieve. As a result of this disaster, our waterways and our lands have been contaminated. The path forward is unclear, but as we embark upon the work to clean up our lands, it will be work that is focused on healing. Healing our lands and ourselves from how we must continue to muster resilience in the face of colonization.
Currently, cyanide is the primary concern as it is a highly toxic substance that presents dangers to the environment and human health. It is especially lethal to fish and other aquatic life. Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world killed fish hundreds of kilometres down rivers. Cyanide kills fish and other aquatic life by interfering with respiration. Even at lower toxicity levels, it can cause long-term damage to fish swimming ability, feeding, growth, and reproduction. Juvenile fish are especially susceptible to the toxin.
On August 2, 2024, 68 dead fish were discovered in Haggart Creek. Monitoring data later revealed unsafe levels of cyanide were released from the Eagle Gold water treatment plant into the creek around that time. We also strongly suspect that some cyanide leaked into Haggart Creek from the site at unsafe levels in the weeks after the failure. We do not know what impact this had on fish and other aquatic life, although no dead fish were found in connection with these leaks. FNNND is monitoring fish, other aquatic life, and fish habitat to understand the impacts.
Cyanide spills elsewhere in the world have also led to large kills of birds, likely because of birds drinking contaminated water. The effects of cyanide are sometimes delayed because stomach acids of birds may free up additional cyanide from less immediately lethal compounds.
This area of the FNNND Traditional Territory is of vital cultural importance. As the "big river people that come from these ancestral waters,” the waterways are integral to FNNND's way of life, Traditional economies, and cultural vibrancy. Since the implementation of the Yukon First Nation moratorium on fishing Chinook Salmon in April 2024, the importance of and reliance on other fish species such as Arctic Grayling has increased. Due to the high population of Arctic Grayling in Haggart Creek, this environmental crisis risks the integrity of this species, and FNNND’s way of life. The extent of harm to fish is not yet known. FNNND is monitoring with other authorities to better understand this.
Wild mammals are also exposed to cyanide spills from drinking contaminated water. A variety of mammals have been killed by cyanide poisoning at contaminated sites elsewhere in the world. As FNNND continues to monitor our environment, special attention will be paid to terrestrial animals and their wellbeing.
Water connects us all. We are all reliant on the water for our survival. Our waters are our matriarchs. They are our mothers, our aunties, our grandmothers. When one of our waters are harmed or threatened, we all feel it. We all grieve. As a result of this disaster, our waterways and our lands have been contaminated. The path forward is unclear, but as we embark upon the work to clean up our lands, it will be work that is focused on healing. Healing our lands and ourselves from how we must continue to muster resilience in the face of colonization.