Cleanup restricts access to Ptarmigan Mine site
Public asked to avoid abandoned area off the Ingraham Trail
Jessica Davey-Quantick
Northern News Services
Friday, September 16, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A new fence is being installed around the Ptarmigan Mine site to keep people out.
The latest phase of the environmental assessment at the former Ptarmigan gold mine is checking for contamination. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources advised the public on Sept. 12 that access to the site will be restricted for the next several months because of clean-up work.
The former gold mine, located about 20 kilometres outside of Yellowknife on the Ingraham Trail, was originally staked in 1936 and acquired by Cominco in 1938. Treminco Resources Limited took control in 1985, but the site, with its two shafts - Tom and Ptarmigan - was closed in 1997.
An estimate of clean-up costs at the time was around $350,000.
"Public access to Ptarmigan and Tom Mine is being restricted to mitigate the health and safety risks associated with the sites," stated department spokesperson Judy McLinton in an e-mail to the Yellowknifer.
Similar work is also being done at the Crestaurum, Tin and Burwash Mine sites.
"The GNWT is assessing these sites, including Ptarmigan Mine to determine the contamination present and the extent of contamination due to historical mining activities," stated McLinton. "This includes contamination that could be present in the soil, sediment, groundwater, surface water and building materials at these sites."
She said previous assessments concluded hydrocarbons and metals were a "concern."
When Ptarmigan and Tom first closed, there was concern about contaminated water leaking from flooded underground chambers, and stretches of road being tainted with hydrocarbon pollutants.
This phase of cleanup will determine if these contaminants have spread.
"The Phase III Environmental Assessment is being done to delineate the identified contaminants of concern and determine if contaminants are migrating off site," stated McLinton.
The sites are listed as Excepted Waste Sites under the Devolution Final Agreement, which means the responsibility for the management of the site will be determined through negotiations between the territory and the federal government.
Updated costs to remediate the sites weren't available at press time. McLinton says the actual costs of the cleanup will be determined after this phase of assessment is completed and a Remedial Action Plan is developed.
The department is asking the public to avoid all abandoned mine sites while work is in progress.
