A Whitehorse man and a Whitehorse company have been charged with building a road or trail north of Carmacks without authorization.

Nicolai Goeppel was charged earlier this month with three contraventions under the territories Land Use Regulations and one infraction under the Forest Resources Act.

Facing the same four charges is Kluane Drilling Ltd.

Chief Eric Fairclough of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation described the incident last week as very troubling.

The matter has been sent to the First Nation’s lawyer, he told the Star.

“It’s a big issue to us at the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation,” Fairclough said.

“We are going to be working on this matter. It is a serious matter, and we want it resolved.”

Fairclough said the Cat trail or road was discovered by staff last June.

It’s estimated it’s in the area of 21 kilometres long, the chief pointed out.

“They discovered it, the road, and asked to meet with the developer on it and the government knew nothing about it; no authorization.”

Fairclough said he understands the trail is linked to accessing mining claims, and “it’s a black eye for the industry.”

Goeppel and Kluane Drilling have been charged with:

• using a bulldozer to move ground or clear land without a Class A permit;

• carrying out work, including levelling, grading and cutting trail or right-of-way exceeding 1.5 metres in without a Class A permit;

• carrying out work using a bulldozer weighing more than five tonnes but fewer than 10 without a Class B authorization; and

• did cause forest resource harvesting without authorization.

Goeppel is a placer miner. He was seeking permission earlier this year to mine placer claims along Judas Creek near Marsh Lake.

The Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Board recommended the project be denied because the area is important habitat for the troubled Southern Lakes caribou herd.

The Yukon government agreed with the board and denied the project proposal.