NovaGold, Donlin Gold Address Risk, Supporting Partners
NovaGold and Donlin Gold have provided these updates on their work to protect the health of employees and supporting companies, while also helping neighbor communities affected by the crisis. Minimizing risk of exposure We are committed to providing an environment in which all our people make it home safe each and every day. We focus on health and safety, where we adopt and implement a high level of protection for our employees and contractors as well as invest in safety programs throughout the Y-K region. Employees take their safety practices back to their communities NOVAGOLD has strong and collaborative relationships with our Native Corporation partners that have been in place for more than 25 years. We respect the values, the culture, and the language of the people in the Y-K region, including helping to maintain their subsistence way of life. It is only possible through an atmosphere of openness, transparency, constructive dialogue, and mutual respect on the part of all stakeholders. NOVAGOLD’s most important objective during this period is to secure the health and safety of its employees, partners, and contractors. In recognition of the major threat posed by COVID-19, NOVAGOLD has implemented a wide-ranging set of policies at its offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver, as well as at the Donlin Gold LLC office in Anchorage and Donlin Gold site, designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them. In that regard, to reduce risk, our office employees have been asked to work from home, avoid all non-essential travel, adhere to good hygiene practices, and, if they must visit the office, engage in social distancing. NOVAGOLD and its partner Barrick Gold through Donlin Gold LLC have implemented a wide-ranging set of policies consistent with the State of Alaska’s requirements, recommendations, and precautions for State activities and aimed at achieving the same objectives at the Donlin Gold project site: n Screening all employees and contractors visiting the Donlin Gold project site prior to their departure for site and periodically during their stay. n Should any individual exhibit any symptoms of illness, they will be evaluated to determine if they need to be isolated and evacuated from site. n Increased housekeeping staff and implementing more frequent sanitization practices. n Regularly conducting safety meetings designed to
address sound hygiene and sanitization practices; and n Requesting all employees to monitor their health and consult the site medic if feeling any symptoms of illness.
Donlin Gold supporting local communities Food deliveries to middle Kuskokwim villages
commenced in mid-April. Donlin Gold partnered with The Kuskokwim Corporation and Tribal councils to coordinate and deliver food and supplies to communities now without regular air carrier service. This is particularly important as the primary airline servicing western Alaska ceased operations soon after travel restrictions were put in place in Alaska. Donlin Gold has partnered with Aniak Traditional Council that acts as a regional center to establish a food distribution center/food bank. Food and supplies are delivered by the tribe to residents homebound due to medical/health issues, quarantine requirements, or other reasons. Food and supplies are acquired through a local Alaska Native-owned grocery store by Donlin Gold. By purchasing locally, Donlin Gold supports an Alaska Native owned business that employees locally and provides needed food items during a time when there is no longer scheduled and reliable transportation. Assembled and shipped 1,400 face mask making kits to 56 YK villages. Coordinated with Tribal administrators to identify volunteer sewers to make the masks for Elders and COVID-susceptible people. Working with Bethel Community Services Foundation on Bethel needs and potential partnerships. When we temporarily closed Donlin Gold project camp in early April, we donated thousands of pounds of food to local children’s lunchbox and homeless shelters. Donlin Gold government relationships: n Tribal engagement with McGrath, Nikolai, Scammon Bay, Tunak, Chevak, Marshall, Kwigillingok and Pilot Station for village protocol and approvals to help support the return of Donlin Gold employees back to their home village. n Ongoing coordination and engagement with Governor’s office, Alaska Congressional delegation, and state and local leaders to identify needs and solutions for growing and dynamic COVID-19 circumstances. n Participating in regional and statewide COVID-19 task forces to lend industry input during dynamic situation.
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I May 2020
17
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease