The design solutions include three levels of environmental protection:

• decontaminate, dehydrate and store semi-dry waste on a specifically dedicated site, protected by an impervious screen, to keep soil and water from drainage and runoff;
• carry out water recycling (thus reducing the fresh water requirement of the company);
• sorb gold onto activated carbon without the use of sulphuric acid in the technological process.

Mitigation measures:

on land resources:

• carrying out the work strictly within the outlines of the project sites;
• carrying out planning work, clearing debris and landscaping at the end of construction;
• upon completion of operational works — reclamation of disturbed lands, including:
• the technical phase (a set of activities aimed at preparing the land for its subsequent intended use);
• the biological phase (a set of activities aimed at land reclamation after the technical stage works);
• compliance with waste management regulations.

on the ambient air:

• equipping organised emission sources with treatment facilities to purify process gases and aspiratory air. Efficiency is 85-95%;
• using modern diesel technology with catalytic exhaust gas reduction systems that reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80%;
• dust suppression of roads, hard mineral dumpsites;
• closing the crushed ore stockpile, reducing dust emissions by 80-90%.

on flora and fauna:

• transporting machinery only within designated on-site and off-site roads;
• A preliminary survey of the area of Red Data Book plants and their replanting (if necessary) in agreement with the environmental authorities;
• fencing of the industrial site in order to avoid accidental loss of wildlife.

on water resources:

• introduction of technically based water and wastewater standards;
• placement of project facilities outside the boundaries of watercourse protection zones;
• drainage and treatment of polluted storm sewage from the infrastructure sites;
• the use of an impervious screen for structures.

Environmental monitoring:

• monitoring of both surface and drinking water for chemical, bacteriological and radiological indicators;
• groundwater monitoring from observation wells near the Solid Mineral Waste site (SMW);
• monitoring of effluent after the detoxification unit and residual water in the SMW for chemical parameters;
• air quality monitoring at all facilities of the complex and nearby settlements;
• monitoring of the condition and changes in flora, fauna and soil;
• noise, vibration and radiation monitoring;
• weather monitoring.