Yukon gov't temporarily extends some placer mining licences while working through permit backlog

The Yukon government is issuing temporary licence extensions to placer miners in the queue for licence renewals as staff work through the backlog of permit approvals and licence renewal applications.

On Thursday, the territory made "temporary" amendments to the Placer Mining Land Use Regulation and the Quartz Mining Land Use Regulation to approve extensions to eligible operators — and temporary additions to the Waters Regulation to authorize eligible operators to use water consistent with the terms of their existing licence while seeking a licence renewal.

"We feel this will help alleviate the pressure on the overall system," said John Streicker, Yukon's minister of energy, mines and resources.

The decision comes after placer miners and advocates went public about delays that were costing them their ability to work. Some had been in limbo for over a year waiting for their approvals.

Streicker said extensions will be given to operators whose licences are close to expiring, including 19 operators whose licences recently expired while in queue for renewal. Extensions will also be given to "previously approved projects that have been through the First Nations consultation process and are within the temporal, spatial and activity scope of the decision documents already in place."

"The way we're looking at this is because those mines have already been operating, already did consultation and engagement on them, we can allow them to continue in a temporary way while we work through the backlog," Streicker told CBC News.

Streicker said this doesn't change the licence renewal or permitting approval process, but it's a temporary way to keep people working while still following regulations.

He added that his department has already begun contacting placer miners to notify them of the extension.

Will Fellers is the president of the Klondike Placer Miners Association.

He said he was very glad to hear about new changes, but he wants to speak with the Minister before he gets too excited about anything just yet. 

"We know the government's been working on this behind the scenes and I'm glad to see something finally has came out of it," Fellers told CBC News.

"I haven't been briefed on it yet. This is just new, so it will be interesting to hear from John [Streicker] exactly what the specifics are of this but if its the case it's a great step in getting the operators back being able to go out on the land and back to work again.

"That makes me happy to hear."