Located in the Yukon Kuskokwim, the Donlin Gold Mine has been quietly progressing for 2o years.
External Affairs Manager Kurt Parkan said at this stage, no new news is good news for the project.
Parkan: “What we’re doing now is going through the permitting process and it’s to some degree a mundane process, there aren’t any major hiccups or major events that are causing us to delay or upset the applecart sort of speak, so in that sense no news is good news, steady as we go which is how we feel right now.”
For the project to continue, over 100 permits will need to be approved by state and federal agencies, which will likely take three years. After that, it will take 3-4 years to construct the necessary dams, process mills, power and water plants and storage areas.
3,000 construction jobs are expected. The draft EIS will be opened up for public comment this fall, with the final EIS expected in 2017. After that, the project can start pursuing the 100+ permits.
