Fairbanks Chamber Weekly Business Luncheon: Donlin Gold Mine project update

Donlin Gold is working to develop an open pit gold mine in Southwest Alaska, 10 miles north of the village of Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwim River. A 315-mile natural gas pipeline from Cook Inlet to the mine site is also proposed as the energy source for the mine. The project will offer hundreds of jobs and leave employees with work skills that will serve them long into the future. Donlin Gold is equally owned and supported by NOVAGOLD Resources and Barrick Gold Corporation. NOVAGOLD is a precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. Donlin Gold has set an unprecedented Alaska Native hire rate, at times over 90 percent. Employing local residents from the region will continue to be a top priority of the project, including job training opportunities that will be provided before any significant hiring takes place during construction and operation of the mine.


The US Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting a series of public meetings to gather comments on the Donlin Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The proposed mine requires many federal and state permits. The EIS provides the basis for the US Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies to evaluate federal permit applications.