NGOs warn Donlin mine spill could devastate region

AI desk brief

A new federal draft SEIS says a major tailings-dam failure at Novagold’s proposed Donlin Gold mine in Alaska could bury Crooked Creek, poison drinking water for decades and leave some environmental impacts lasting more than a century. The study examined a failure releasing about 27% of tailings capacity, far larger than the 0.5% scenario in the prior review, and the Army Corps/BLM are taking comments through Oct. 23 before deciding whether to modify, reaffirm or rescind the permit.

Donlin is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits, with about 40Moz measured and indicated at 2.22 g/t and planned output of roughly 1.1Moz/yr over 27 years, rising to 1.3Moz/yr in the first decade. The article is more relevant as a long-dated supply/permitting risk than as an immediate price catalyst; it underscores the regulatory and social-license hurdles facing a major future gold project.