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Abandoned Mines
Timeline
Clinton Creek Pages...
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1967
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation commences mining operations.
1974
Clinton waste rock pile slides, blocking Clinton Creek and creating Hudgeon Lake. Tailings deposit slides down the valley into Wolverine Creek and restricts the water flow.
1978
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation ceases mining operations and removes main sections of the concentrator, most mining equipment, and primary structures of the townsite. Townsite and mill buildings were auctioned off. A rock channel and weirs are constructed to redirect the flow of Wolverine Creek over the south point of tailings deposit. The progressive failure of the north point of the tailings deposit is ongoing.
1981
Cassiar Asbestos installs culverts and a shield made of gravel to protect against erosion at Hudgeon Lake as well as constructs rock weirs and reinforces the channel in Clinton Creek.
1982
Clinton Creek escapes reinforced channel and undercuts north valley wall.
1984
Clinton Creek reinforced channel is reconstructed.
1985
North point of the tailings deposit reaches and restricts Wolverine Creek.
1987
Cassiar submits abandonment plan which was never accepted as adequate by the government.
1988
Further equipment and structures removed from site.
1989
Warning signs put up and some clean-up is carried out.
1991
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation bought by Princeton Mining Corporation. Further remedial action undertaken.
1992
Government of Canada (Canada) officials recommend that the financial security be returned to Princeton Mining Corporation.
1997
Significant flood event destroys channel reinforcement and weir structures in Clinton Creek.
1999
Canada begins investigation into environmental liabilities at site.
2002
Canada undertakes actions to stabilize channel under the emergency section of the Waters Act. As previous stabilization is not successful, Canada implements an initial phase of a channel stabilization program with the installation of gabion structures.
2003
Government of Yukon (Yukon) takes over management of site. As part of the Phase II creek stabilization plan, additional gabion structures are installed to continue channel stabilization and reduce the erosion of the waste rock pile. Site monitoring is continued.
2004
Yukon begins to remove physical hazards on site.
2005
Yukon continues to clean up physical hazards and manages overall maintenance of site.
2006
Removal of physical hazards on site completed.
2007
Site monitoring continues and minor repairs made to gabion basket structures.
2008
Ongoing monitoring of the effects of further waste rock movement and the channel stabilization work is managed by Yukon. Development of the closure alternatives document.
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Assessment and Abandoned Mines
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Phone: 867.393.7429
Fax: 867.456.6780
Email: yukonabandonedmines@gov.yk.ca