RDC tours the Donlin Gold project in Southwest Alaska

By Marleanna Hall

Tour participants include from left to right Stan Hooley, Iditarod; John MacKinnon, Associated General Contractors of Alaska; Rebecca Logan, the Alliance; Rick Rogers, RDC; Rachael Petro, Alaska Chamber; Stan Foo, Donlin Gold LLC; Jerry Mackie, lobbyist, and Marleanna Hall, RDC.

RDC staff and several local industry trade association leaders recently toured the Donlin Gold LLC project site, receiving a hands-on perspective of the proposed project.

The Donlin Gold project is located in Southwest Alaska, approximately 277 miles west of Anchorage. It is located in a region of Alaska that experiences high unemployment.

The project is on surface land owned by The Kuskokwim Corporation, and the subsurface owned by Calista Corporation. The project is in the early phase of the permitting process, and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected in 2014.

The group was hosted by RDC board member and Donlin Gold General Manager Stan Foo, and Kurt Parkan, External Affairs Manager for Donlin. Foo and Parkan explained the proposed project designs, as well as demonstrated the areas of the project that would be designed for wasterock and tailings.

The group also visited the camp site facilities, viewed drilling sites, and flew over the nearby community of Crooked Creek.

The project is expected to take three to four years to construct, and projected to produce 1.1 million ounces of gold per year for over 27 years. During the construction phase, about 3,000 jobs will pay $375 million in annual wages. During the 27+ year production life, 600-1,400 jobs will pay $97 million annually.

Through the exploration stages, Donlin has shown a strong commitment to local hire and for supporting communities and cultures in the region. About 90% of onsite employees have been Calista shareholders or descendants.

Recently, the State of Alaska Department of Labor nominated Donlin Gold for the 2013 National Employer of the Year, and Donlin received the award by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.

This award recognizes a business for accomplishments resulting in a positive impact on its workforce, industry, and community.

 

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