NovaGold announces acceptance of Donlin Gold into FAST-41 program

On October 27, 2025, Donlin Gold was formally accepted into the FAST-41 program, a federal initiative that enhances transparency, accountability, and predictability in the federal permitting process. Established in 2015, FAST-41 ensures that permitting timelines are clearly defined, publicly available and coordinated among federal agencies, while maintaining every existing environmental safeguard and regulatory requirement. This designation is expected to result in a more efficient permitting timeline and reflects the strategic importance of Donlin Gold as a responsible and key economic development project in Alaska. “We’re grateful to the Permitting Council for including Donlin Gold in the FAST-41 program,” said Todd Dahlman, Donlin Gold’s General Manager. “This milestone brings us one step closer to responsibly advancing the project through this improved federal coordination program, with its predictable permitting timelines and improved public transparency.” As part of the acceptance, Donlin Gold is now listed on the Federal Permitting Dashboard in connection with the project’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. In 2025, the U.S. Alaska District Court directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Land Management to supplement the current Environmental Impact Statement with an analysis of a larger theoretical tailings dam release, while leaving Donlin Gold’s federal permits in place. As part of the ongoing federal review, the USACE, in consultation with BLM, will lead the SEIS process to conduct this analysis. This transparent, science-based review is designed to provide both the public and decision-makers with complete and accurate information. While most projects that are accepted into FAST-41 program are at the initial stages of permitting, Donlin Gold has been deeply engaged in permitting for over a decade and has received most of its state and federal permits. Donlin’s inclusion in the FAST-41 program is focused on ensuring a transparent, accountable, and predictable process for the federal agencies’ supplemental environmental analysis requested by the Court.