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comprehensive environmental baseline data and lay the groundwork with local and regulatory stakeholders for the success of the project. In 2017, activities were focused on advancing the nal EIS.
Throughout each stage of project development – and more recently during the EIS and permitting process – the Donlin Gold project plan has continued to evolve to address concerns that have been raised by the residents of the Y-K region. The EIS process, which commenced in 2012 and is led by the Corps, has informed the public of Donlin Gold’s proposed development plan and provided them with multiple opportunities to participate and comment at various times during the process. The Corps completed and distributed the preliminary nal EIS in July for review by the cooperating agencies, who submitted their input back to the Corps in mid-September.
Donlin Gold continued to support this process by providing requested information to the Corps and cooperating agencies. The nal EIS is anticipated to be published in early 2018, followed by the issuance of an ROD in the second half of 2018. Other major state permits continue their advancement and are scheduled to be nalized concurrently with the Corps’ ROD or shortly thereafter. Notably, the prevention of signi cant deterioration permit was issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Air Quality
on June 30, 2017 and the draft water discharge and integrated waste management permits were released for a 60-day public comment period at the end of 2017. We are committed to continuing to achieve these key project permitting milestones in 2018.
What’s the status of the Donlin Gold drill program?
As we approach the end of the project’s EIS and permitting process, both partners continue to advance Donlin Gold with technical rigor, nancial discipline, and a focus on further improving the project’s value and minimizing initial capital costs. We are evaluating enhancements to the project execution plan, assessing greater use
of selective mining methods, examining innovative technologies
in logistics and automation, and investigating potential third-party participation in infrastructure development.
As part of this shared mindset to enhance value and build optionality – to truly realize the extraordinary potential of Donlin Gold – we’ve performed important optimization work to ensure that the deposit can be mined and processed in an operationally sound and economically e cient manner.
Donlin Gold conducted a drill program between July and November 2017, consisting of 16 core holes and 7,040 meters.
The focus of the program was to gather additional geochemical
and structural data in targeted portions of the deposit, and further strengthen our understanding of the targeted mineralized zones. The results will contribute valuable data to advance our optimization work. We believe that the approved eld work will rea rm Donlin Gold’s status as the asset best positioned to capitalize on the resumption of the long-term bull market in gold.
The advancement of the optimization work with our partner Barrick Gold and an external engineering rm also led to the exploration of a strategy of employing more selective mining practices to increase mined grade.
Project permitting on track: advancing toward final Environmental Impact Statement.
2018
August 2012
16 years
˜ 6
˜ 4
27+ years
Q A
1.5Moz/year
first five full years*
Moz/year 1.1life of mine*
Permit Applications
submitted 08/12
Notice of Intent
submitted 12/12
Public Scoping
ended 03/13
Preliminary Draft EIS
completed 06/15
Draft EIS
published 11/15
Public Comment Period
ended 05/16
Final EIS
and Record of Decision
(Final EIS expected early 2018, ROD in second half of 2018)
* Donlin Gold data as per the second updated feasibility study. Projected average annual production represents 100% of which NOVAGOLD’s share is 50%.
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EXPLORATION & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
PERMITTING
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION