Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA Tasiast Gold Mine Expansion Project Phase 2: On-Site Mine, Process and Infrastructure Environmental Impact Assessment Final 30 March 2012 Prepared for Prepared for Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA Tasiast Gold Mine Expansion Project Revision Schedule Phase 2 Environmental Impact Assessment 30 March 2012 Final Rev Date Details Prepared by Reviewed by Approved by 01 21/12/2011 Draft for review Reine Loader Julie Raynor Russell Foxwell Environmental Consultant Associate Associate Fraser Paterson Associate 02 01/03/2012 Draft for Reine Loader Julie Raynor Russell Foxwell translation Environmental Consultant Associate Associate Fraser Paterson Associate 03 30/03/2012 FINAL Reine Loader Fraser Paterson Russell Foxwell Environmental Consultant Associate Associate URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited 6-8 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1PL United Kingdom Tel +44 (0) 20 7798 5000 Fax +44 (0) 20 7798 5001 www.ursglobal.com Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA Tasiast Gold Mine Expansion Project Limitations URS Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“URS”) (formerly URS Scott Wilson Ltd) has prepared this Report for the use of Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA (“Client”) in accordance with the Agreement under which our services were performed. 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Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA Tasiast Gold Mine Expansion Project Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................... 20 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 20 1.2 The Project ..................................................................................................................... 20 1.3 Approach to Permitting ................................................................................................... 21 1.4 Phase 2 Reporting .......................................................................................................... 23 2 Legislation and Policy Framework ............................................... 25 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 25 2.2 National .......................................................................................................................... 25 2.3 International Standards .................................................................................................. 33 3 The Project – Phase 2 .................................................................... 38 3.1 Overview of Existing Mine Operations ........................................................................... 38 3.2 Project Components - Phase 2 ...................................................................................... 40 4 Project Setting ................................................................................ 68 4.1 Mining in Mauritania ....................................................................................................... 68 4.2 Location .......................................................................................................................... 68 4.3 Baseline Conditions ........................................................................................................ 69 5 Impact Assessment Methodology ................................................ 72 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 72 5.2 Terms of Reference ........................................................................................................ 72 5.3 Environmental Impact Assessment ................................................................................ 72 6 Surface Water and Groundwater ................................................... 78 6.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 78 6.2 Baseline Conditions ........................................................................................................ 80 6.3 Potential Impacts ............................................................................................................ 89 6.4 Mitigation Measures ....................................................................................................... 97 6.5 Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................................................ 98 6.6 Evaluation of Mitigated Impacts ..................................................................................... 98 6.7 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 101 7 Air Quality ..................................................................................... 102 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 102 7.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 103 7.3 Baseline Conditions ...................................................................................................... 109 7.4 Baseline Air Quality Survey .......................................................................................... 110 7.5 Hydrogen Cyanide Gas Detection ................................................................................ 111 7.6 Potential Impacts .......................................................................................................... 112 Phase 2 Environmental Impact Assessment March 2012 1 Tasiast Mauritanie Limited SA Tasiast Gold Mine Expansion Project 7.7 Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................... 131 7.8 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................... 132 7.9 Evaluation of Mitigated Impacts ................................................................................... 132 7.10 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 133 8 Noise and Vibration ...................................................................... 135 8.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 135 8.2 Baseline Conditions ...................................................................................................... 139 8.3 Potential Impacts .......................................................................................................... 140 8.4 Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................... 148 8.5 Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................................... 149 8.6 Evaluation of Mitigated Impacts ................................................................................... 149 8.7 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 150 9 Soils and Land Use ...................................................................... 151 9.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 151 9.2 Baseline Conditions .....................................................................................................