Approximately 100 permits and authorizations will be reviewed for approval by federal, state and local agencies before construction and operation of the Donlin Gold mine can begin. Permitting is anticipated to take at least three years due to the extensive review process and consideration by various agencies.

The permitting process is managed by federal and state regulatory agencies. The public, agencies and the applicant will have opportunities to comment on the project at different points during the permitting process. Donlin Gold’s permit applications will be reviewed by federal and state regulatory agencies and possibly amended where needed.

The application for federal permits triggers a review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the document that records the details of the proposed project, alternatives, baseline information and environmental, economic and social effects of the proposed project and different alternatives. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency to oversee participation and manage federal coordination in conjunction with the State of Alaska’s Large Mine Permitting Team (LMPT). The LMPT is a state interagency group within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources that works cooperatively with federal resource agencies and coordinates the state approval process.