Class 3 and 4 quartz mines are assessed by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB). Class 4 quartz mines also require a water license. Both YESAB and the Water Board maintain public registries online (see Waterline and the YESAB Online Registry). In addition, section 5 of the Quartz Mining Act states that "All books of record and documents filed in the office of a mining recorded shall, during office hours, be open to public inspection free of charge." This includes class 3 and 4 pre and post season reports. While personal information may be contained in these registries and reports, it is by no means sensitive.
Mineral Resources branch (MRB) requires authorized class 3 and 4 quartz mining operators (Operators) to complete pre and post-season reports per s.9(2)(d)(ii) of the Quartz Mining Land Use Regulations. These reports help MRB monitor and ensure that Operators are compliant with their authorizations.
Historically, operators have submitted completed forms by email, mail or fax to the branch and information is saved on YG network drives. This process is inefficient because it is difficult for staff to track which Operator has submitted what report and makes it impractical, if not impossible to compile and map ground disturbance by area Furthermore, MRB has no control over the format and the quality of information being submitted.
The new reports, which will be completed by Operators in a Survey123 web app and saved to ArcGIS online as well as to YG's Geospatial warehouse will help MRB to streamline operations, improve data integrity as well as increase operational efficiencies.