Ch. 3 Land - Environment Yukon

3.4 Mining
Mining has been an important part of
the Yukon economy since the late
1800s. For many Yukoners, mining is
also a lifestyle. Prospecting and placer
mining in particular offer opportunities
to work ‘in the bush’ for at least part of
the year. Mining is also one of the
Yukon’s major land uses, as buildings,
access road, exploration and mineral
extraction are all part of the industry.
Some mining activities such as
prospecting and exploration have relatively
little impact on the environment,
whereas advanced exploration and
mining extraction have significantly
transformed the landscape in some
areas. Major effects can be seen in the
placer areas of the Klondike where
large volumes of earth have been
moved. Other effects include road
development and the abandonment of
equipment, infrastructure and camp
refuse at mining and exploration sites.
Over the past 10 to 20 years, many
controversial issues in the Yukon have
revolved around mining and
environmental regulation. Mining
related environmental concerns have
been particularly evident over the past
few years because both the Faro and
Mount Nansen mines went into
receivership, creating uncertainty over
the clean up of these sites and the
responsibility. Many Yukoners have
been concerned about the regulatory
regime’s capacity to protect the
environment from certain miningrelated
impacts. They also want the
mining industry to be held accountable
for its effects on the environment. On
the other hand, the mining industry
has raised concerns about the
increased levels and complexities of
regulations and the accompanying
additional expenses and delays.
The enactment of the Yukon Quartz
Mining Land Use Regulations (MLUR) in
December 1998, was a significant step
forward, ensuring that all mining related
land uses are assessed for potential
environmental effects. Yukon-made
legislation is the result of 10 years of
consultation between government and
stakeholders. It is designed to minimize
the environmental effects of
disturbance caused by exploration
activities. All mineral exploration
activities must now comply with
operating conditions, which represent
the minimal performance levels and
conditions for: re-establishing vegetative
mat, erosion control, trenching,
archeological sites and burial grounds,
camp cleanliness, stream crossings,
line cutting, and many more.
Total Surface Percentage of Yukon
(square kilometers) Land Base
Total area of the Yukon 483,450 100
Iron and mica claims 340 0.07
Quartz mineral claims 14,052 2.9
(including leases which allow
for prospecting only)
Placer claims (standard, 1,598 0.33
discovery and co-discovery)
Figure 3.8 Amount of Yukon Land Under Mining Claims 1
(Status as of November, 1998)
Mining projects are now classified into
four categories, from small camps of
prospectors to major operations
involving drilling equipment, road
development and large camps.
Depending on the size and possible
impact of the activity program, such as
trenching, drilling, numbers of persons
in the camp, amount of fuel used and
stored, use of explosives and several
other criteria, an operating plan may
need to be submitted to the Mining
Land Use Office. In some cases,
additional mitigation may be necessary
if the operating conditions are judged
insufficient to deal with potential
impacts. A Handbook to Reclamation
Techniques in the Yukon has been
developed to assist the mineral industry
and will be updated as industry gains
more experience at implementing the
regulations. Also available from the
DIAND Environment Directorate is a
Permit Guide for Projects in the Yukon
Territory, which outlines the permits
required for various activities; roads,
forestry and mining.
How Mining Affects the Land
In 1998, 15,990 square kilometers of
land (3.3 per cent of the area of the
Yukon) were held by mining claims in
good standing (see Figure 3.8). This
included placer, quartz, iron and mica
claims, though not all staked claims are
being actively explored. This represents
an increase in mining claimed land of
0.8 per cent from the last SOE report
(1994 data). Of these claims, less than
one per cent will have the potential to
support a large mine. Although less
than 0.01 per cent of the Yukon is
occupied by active mines, the impact of
mining operations can extend far
beyond the actual footprint of the mine.
Major operations can potentially harm
land, water, and wildlife.
Roads to exploration sites and camps
have contributed to the fragmentation
of large portions of the Yukon. Mining
districts with a long history of activity,
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