Plans and Permits
The Donlin Gold Project’s plans and permits commit us to protecting the environment and our traditional way of life—before construction, during operations, and after the mine closes. They address common concerns about water, barging, tailings, mercury/cyanide, and reclamation and serve as a guide for respectful development.
The permitting process is well-regulated and monitored by federal, state, and local agencies with periodic review periods and renewal requirements. Public input is included at various stages through the permitting process and can result in revisions to the plans and permits.
Latest News in Permitting
Donlin Gold Project Gains FAST-41 Coverage
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) improves the transparency, predictability, accountability, and coordination of permitting processes. It requires the development of publicly accessible permitting schedules and dashboards to track progress. These are used to enhance coordination across agencies and project sponsors and communicate progress with the public. It does not allow the project to skip steps, limit public input, or reduce oversight.
Follow Our Progress Here
The Corps launched the SEIS with a notice to proceed and collected the first round of public comment. Click on this dashboard to view and track the latest status of the SEIS work.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Supplemental Documents
The EIS is an extensive government document that details the impacts a proposed project may have on its surrounding environment. It records baseline information about the project and the environmental, economic, and social effects of the proposed project.
The EIS process is required by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Donlin’s EIS was developed over the course of six years and included extensive public input.
To learn more about Environmental Impact Statements, we recommend this American Bar Association overview. Learn more here.
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluated a hypothetical failure of the project’s proposed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) Main Dam. This analysis was challenged and, in June 2025, the Alaska District Court ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) should supplement the current EIS with an evaluation of a larger hypothetical spill.
To learn more about the Supplemental EIS (SEIS), what to expect during the process, and how to provide comments, view our factsheet.
Frequently Asked Questions about the SEIS
Learn more about what is being updated and why, how Donlin Gold is ensuring the safety of the tailings dam, and how protection of fish habitat is considered.
Index of Other Plans and Permits
The following lists include topic-specific plans and permits for responsible Operations, Waste Management, Monitoring and Emergency Preparedness, and Reclamation and Closure. Plans or permits that are not linked are forthcoming.
Operations
- Project Description
- Water Resources Management Plan
- Pipeline Plan of Development
- Barging Plan (forthcoming)
- Barging Communication Plan
Waste Management
Monitoring & Emergency Preparedness
- Aquatic Resources Monitoring Plan
- Emergency Spill-Response Plan
- Terminal and Tank Farm Oil Discharge Prevention Contingency Plan
- Vessel Oil Discharge Prevention Contingency Plan
Reclamation and Closure
- Reclamation and Closure Plan
- Financial Assurance and Long-Term Trust