The mine is kinda closed, but in receivership of PriceWaterhouseCoopers , is somewhat under government control, and on native lands belonging to Selkirk First Nation. They’ve had low salmon runs recently and this is really bad for the fish.

“The last thing you want to do is dig up mud, which is what this company did. The water license very specifically says ‘Don’t do this,’ and they went ahead and did it. So, it’s a huge concern to us.”

…

Todd Vogt, JDS’ chief operating officer and executive vice president, said the company had to dredge the river due to an “emergency situation.”

He explained water levels were dropping fast and two exposed boulders at the barge landing were obstructing the barge landing. At the time, the territory was at the height of wildfire season, and there were concerns for workers’ safety at the mine site in case of evacuation.

…

But Rifkind said proper steps still should have been taken.

He said JDS should have informed the territory’s Department of Energy, Mines and Resources’ mining inspector, as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada about the situation.

“This wouldn’t have prevented them from doing the work, but there would have been a paper trail of why the work was required,” he said.

He said a report would then have to be filed with the Yukon Water Board explaining why JDS “varied” from the conditions of the mine’s water licence. [sic]

Anyway, it sounds like mistakes were made and it is hard to tell if the responsible people are learning from the mistake or if they’re just blowing it off without plans to improve. I’m hoping for the former, but it is the sort of thing that needs to get publicized so voters can demand accountability.