U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan has called for increased transparency from Canadian officials following a cyanide spill at a gold mine in the Yukon Territory, which could affect downstream communities in Alaska. In a letter addressed to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Sullivan expressed concerns about the impact of Canadian transboundary mines on Alaskan ecosystems.
Sullivan emphasized his long-standing efforts to address these issues since joining the Senate in 2015. “I sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau raising an issue I’ve been working on for years—making sure Canadian transboundary mines do not negatively impact Alaska communities that are often downstream,” he stated.
The senator highlighted the proactive measures being taken by U.S. authorities, mentioning that “Last week, we secured a commitment from the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct water testing in Alaska’s portion of the Yukon as a precautionary measure.”
While no immediate threat to Alaskans’ health and safety is apparent, Sullivan insists on understanding what happened during the spill and what steps are being taken for cleanup and future risk mitigation. “Mining is critically important to our economy and our national security, and it can be done without endangering our environment or the well-being of our communities,” he said.
The incident involved Victoria Gold’s Eagle Mine releasing approximately 300,000 cubic meters of cyanide solution into a tributary of the Stewart Watershed on June 24. This area feeds into the Yukon River, which flows through Alaska.
Sullivan stressed the importance of salmon to Alaska’s ecosystem and economy, noting that pollutants like cyanide could exacerbate already poor salmon runs on the Yukon River. He requested detailed information from Canada about how they plan to address this incident and prevent future occurrences.
“I look forward to increased coordination between Canadian and U.S. officials on all levels to help prevent these spills,” Sullivan wrote in his letter, underscoring his commitment to safeguarding environmental standards while supporting resource development.
