Yukon Territory bestows mining reclamation honors on companies

Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp. and No Name Resources Inc. won the Yukon Territory's 2007 Robert E. Leckie awards for outstanding quartz (hard rock) and placer reclamation practices, respectively. The awards were announced Nov. 26 at the Yukon Geoscience Forum Awards Banquet in Whitehorse. Yukon Nevada Gold drew praise for its reclamation work at Ketza River; and No Name Resources for its reclamation activities at Ten Mile and Thirteen Mile creeks.

Yukon officials also awarded honorable mentions to Selwyn Resources Ltd. for reclamation at Howard's Pass; and Ross Mining Ltd. for reclamation at Dominion Creek.

Placer miner cited for 'exemplary' efforts

The placer mining award recipient, No Name Resources Inc., is owned by Brent and Rosemary Pasareno. The Pasarenos have been placer mining at Ten Mile and Thirteen Mile Creeks, in the Dawson Mining District since 2003. They took over several properties which had been mined by previous operators since the 1970s, when no legislation existed to encourage reclamation practices.

The Pasarenos have cleaned both areas, and removed abandoned equipment, tanks and debris to a single storage yard for each site. They have sloped and contoured old mining works and camp areas, rehabilitating two sites that can now re-vegetate naturally.

Yukon Government officials said they are indeed exemplary operators.

Selwyn Resources and Ross Mining also recognized

Yukon Government officials also lauded the contributions of Selwyn Resources Ltd., which is conducting a drill program in Howard's Pass which straddles the border of Yukon and Northwest Territories. The award recognized Selwyn's commitment to integrate progressive environmental and socio-economic practices into its operations.

Placer operation Ross Mining Ltd. also won an honorable mention for its work on Dominion Creek near Dawson City. Not only does the company perform reclamation concurrently with stripping and mining, Ross Mining also is working to establish and market Yukon placer gold as a "green" product; gold that is mined and produced using the highest environmental and human rights standards.