2007 Full Report - Kinross Gold

In Russia, at Kupol, the inspection of the winter road identified a small hydrocarbon spill.The spill was cleaned up and there were no water quality impacts. A Notice of Violationwas issued and a fine (RUR 26,000 or approximately $1,000 equivalent) was assessedby the Russian regulatory agency.Both spills were remediated to the full satisfaction of the appropriate regulatory authorities.Water Management at Kettle River-BuckhornKinross’ new underground mine at Kettle River-Buckhorn, scheduled to begincommissioning in October 2008, represents a complete redesign of an earlier proposalfor an open-pit mine made by the previous owner. In response to widespread publicresistance to this earlier proposal, Kinross redesigned Buckhorn to be a model forenvironmentally responsible small-footprint mining.The new Buckhorn project reduces overall water consumption by about 95% fromthe original proposal. It also employs the best water treatment system available, anadvanced ion exchange system. The water treatment system at Buckhorn will reducemetals and nitrogen compounds to very low concentrations, in some cases less thanthe concentrations present in unaffected groundwater.Kinross is also planning to take a number of steps that will improve the wildlife habitatand aquatic environment in the vicinity of the mine from what they are today. Examplesinclude creek-side habitat restoration, improving fish passage culverts and fencingoff streamside areas to reduce degradation from livestock grazing.Managing Groundwaterat La CoipaKinross is taking a best-inclassapproach to addressinggroundwater contaminationfrom mercury that occursnaturally in the La Coipaore body. In the mid-1990s,mercury and cyanide fromtailings seepage were detectedin control wells at La Coipa.Subsequent remediationmeasures included installingwells to intercept and divertuncontaminated water aroundthe tailings area, returningcontaminated groundwaterto the process plant forrecycling, and installing a watertreatment plant to removemercury from groundwater.During 2005 and 2006, thirdpartytechnical reviews werecompleted, and Placer Domeand Kinross, owners of themine, developed a strategyfor further remediationcontrols. Two concrete cut-offwalls were constructed to stopcontaminated water frommigrating downstream. In 2007,a voluntary declaration outliningenvironmental commitmentswas approved by Chileanregulatory agencies. In early2008, additional controlswere implemented to reducemercury mobility in the tailings.Kinross is committed to afull and complete remediationof the La Coipa groundwatercontamination. For moreinformation, please refer to our2007 Annual Information Form.