Environment
Environment
“Donlin Gold remains deeply committed to protecting the environment in and around our project site. Environmental responsibility is integrated into every phase of our operations, from planning through execution, closure and post closure. In 2024, we continued to meet the highest standards of sustainability, maintaining full compliance with all environmental permits and operating without any environmental incidents. Our dedicated site safety and environmental team – that includes experienced professionals from the Y-K region – ensures strict adherence to best management practices across all field activities.”
Enric Fernandez
Environmental and Permitting Manager,
Donlin Gold LLC
NOVAGOLD’s Commitments to the Environment
NOVAGOLD prioritizes environmental management, aiming to minimize impacts for future generations while ensuring safe, responsible operations that benefit employees, shareholders, and local communities. The Board, employees, and personnel at Donlin Gold LLC uphold high environmental standards across all office and project locations, guided by a comprehensive policy covering every project stage, particularly at the Donlin Gold site.
Environmental performance measurement focuses on the Donlin Gold site, where stringent procedures ensure compliance across operations. High standards govern project planning, environmental assessment, fieldwork, and site rehabilitation, integrating environmental, social, cultural, and economic considerations into business strategy and risk assessments. In response to stakeholder concerns, Donlin Gold applies the precautionary principle to minimize potential impacts.
Since 2022, Donlin Gold has used an Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impacts and ensure regulatory compliance. The site maintains strong environmental performance, with daily inspections monitoring potential releases to air, land, and water when the camp is open. These efforts include water and wastewater management, air quality, waste disposal, fuel storage, spill prevention, and protection of local biological resources. Given its limited operations, environmental activities remain small-scale, with minimal land disturbance that varies seasonally. Donlin Gold’s EMS meticulously tracks and verifies completion of action items.
Components of the Environmental Management System (EMS)
- A centralized document repository, known as the Environmental Document Management System (EDMS), holds all relevant environmental documents (e.g., permits, agency communication, reports, and plans).
- Documentation of all Standard Operational Procedures are regularly updated as needed.
- Experienced personnel from the environmental department team ensure that the EMS is maintained, monitored, and managed accurately.
- Permit requirements and other environmental obligations and incidents are recorded, cataloged, scheduled, assigned, and tracked using Intelex, a proven environmental management software solution.
- Third-party audits are planned on a regular basis for assurance that environmental standards have been met. A third-party audit was previously conducted in 2022 and all recommendations were implemented. Another third-party audit, including EMS review, is planned for 2025.
Applicable Corporate Policies can be found here.