2007 Responsibility Report - English (PDF) - Barrick Gold Corporation

are audited, in general, every two years. During the 2007 auditcycle, 29 environmental audits were conducted at producingoperations and development projects.Environmental Management System StandardBarrick’s Environmental Management System Standard wasdeveloped in 2005 to ensure that our standards of practice areconsistent Company-wide. In 2006, our sites assessed the statusof compliance of their operational Environmental ManagementSystems against the corporate Standard. Our operations currentlyhave many of the systems required by the Standard,including a number of sites which are ISO 14001 certified (seepage 32). Nonetheless, additional effort is required to bring alloperations into full compliance with the Barrick Standard. Aphased implementation of the Standard’s Principles began in2007 with the introduction of the Leadership and LegalCompliance Principles. Implementation of additional Principleswill continue in 2008.Materials and Waste ManagementBarrick’s commitment to manage all chemicals and materialsused at our operations in a safe and responsible manner meansthat the use of cyanide, explosives and fuels is closely monitored.Cyanide is used at 23 of our operations and, as a signatoryto the International Cyanide Management Code, we haverigorous procedures in place for the safe transport, storage,handling and disposal of cyanide at each of those sites. In 2007,we used 40.5 million kilograms of cyanide. See page 34 formore information on cyanide management at Barrick.Explosives and fuels are carefully managed at Barrick’s operationsand continuous improvement programs identify opportunitiesfor increasing efficiency in the use of these materials.Our focus on materials conservation has led to the establishmentof recycling and reuse programs at our operations. Avariety of materials are recycled, depending on the recyclingfacilities available near each location, and can include used oil,tires, scrap metals, wood, paper products, plastic and glass.Hazardous waste, including lead cupels, used batteries, usedoil, outdated chemicals, paints and solvents, etc., is removedfrom our properties by licensed waste handlers and eitherrecycled or disposed of in accordance with local and stateregulations. In 2007, we safely removed 2.9 million kilogramsof solid hazardous waste and 14.1 million liters of liquidhazardous waste from our operations.Water Management and Water ConservationWater use for ore processing, mine cooling, dust suppression,blasting activities, etc., is monitored at all our operations andresource conservation opportunities are actively pursued. Muchof the water used for ore processing is reused by recyclingthrough the processing facilities. Both surface and groundwatermay be used, depending on the availability at each site. InBarrick Responsibility Report 2007 31