RE: Newmont's Response to Daily Graphic

Response to Daily Graphic article on US EPA Report, 28 July 2006

ACCRA, August 1, 2006 - Newmont wishes to respond to the article, ‘Newmont operations may affect Ahafo South communities’, which was published 28 July 2006, in the Daily Graphic (Accra, Ghana) and to provide confirmation that its operations are not going to create any adverse impacts on the communities in the area of these operations. The article – focusing on the southern portion of Newmont’s Ahafo lease in Brong-Ahafo - references a document prepared by an employee of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) who undertook a technical review of certain environmental aspects of the Ahafo Project as part of a USAID team. It is our understanding that, at the urging of several NGOs, a technical review was requested in 2005 by one member of the IFC Board prior to final approval of the IFC financing. USAID was tasked with undertaking this review. Subsequently, the loan was approved by the IFC’s Board of 24 Directors after all issues in the review had been addressed.

Newmont welcomed the opportunity presented by the review to facilitate a better understanding of Ahafo Project‘s design parameters and actual site conditions with the USAID team. Newmont obtained a draft list of recommendations based on the USAID team’s observations during their November 2005 visit. The USAID observations were discussed extensively during their visit.

Though a formal report has never been received by Newmont and, to our knowledge, never been released publicly, Newmont has published on our web site in January 2006, and in April 2006, two separate detailed responses to the USAID recommendations and these were also made available to many interested stakeholders, including via meetings with environmental NGOs.

Acid Base Accounting (ABA)

The current data and reports indicate that acid rock drainage is not an issue at this time. Newmont’s testing methods to determine the likelihood of acid rock drainage follow guidance established by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Nevada Division of Environmental protection (state-based regulations in the US must conform to those of US Federal regulations typically established by the EPA). Newmont experts spent significant time with the USEPA team member following the field visit by the USAID team to clarify the differences and correlation between the

American Society for Testing and Materials Standards (ASTM) protocols and other accepted methodologies as related to Acid Base Accounting. In the Waste Rock and Tailings Geochemistry Update of April 2006, specific comparisons were made demonstrating the alignment between Newmont methodology and that of the US Bureau of Land Management for characterization of acid-generating potential. Testing methods employed by Newmont, in fact, are more stringent than the BLM requirements in some instances and are also in line with Ghanaian law and regulations.

Newmont posted a waste rock and tailing geochemistry update (ABA) report on its website in April 2006, which conforms to both United States and internationally recognized standard analysis procedures, and describes both our ongoing commitment and results of test work on acid generation potential.

In addition, a comprehensive response document had already been made publicly available in late January 2006 addressing all comments received, including comments made by the USAID technical representative, during the extensive consultation period (which ran from August 2005 through January 2006). These responses addressed potential acid mine drainage issues and any other issues raised during the consultation period. The issues around potential acid rock drainage have been clearly identified and articulated in the Ahafo Project documentation. Further, these and other publicly available documents outline our commitment to ongoing evaluation, study and understanding of risks of the Project. The documents, including ‘Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, public consultation, comment response document’ of January 2006 and ‘Waste rock and tailing geochemistry update; of April 2006, are available on Newmont’s web site and exemplify our commitment to make information publicly available on an on-going basis.

Newmont will utilize a Change Management Process to monitor and evaluate if these conditions vary over time and has identified and established engineering practices to manage any future changes.

Cyanide Management

The tailing storage facility is an engineered component of the process circuit and solutions are not discharged or released to the environment but are contained within the lined facility and recycled. This provides greater protection than at any other mine in Ghana. Further, the Ahafo Project has been designed, constructed and is being operated in conformance to all the requirements of, and will soon be certified under, the International Cyanide Management Code, a UNEP initiated program that provides life-cycle best practices for the use and management of cyanide. Newmont is monitoring cyanide levels in the tailing storage to ensure cyanide levels are maintained at levels protective of wildlife. The tailing storage facility has a treatment system in place to reduce or destroy cyanide levels in solution, if needed, to internationally accepted levels protective of wildlife. Newmont is committed to maintaining cyanide concentrations in the tailing storage facility at levels that are protective of wildlife and the environment, consistent with the commitment in the Ahafo Project ESIA documentation. Cyanide levels have remained below the level that would pose a threat to wildlife.

Cyanide levels in the facility are managed in accordance with the International Cyanide Management Code not to exceed cyanide levels that are protective of wildlife. The tailing storage facility solutions are fully contained within the lined facility and will not be in contact with aquatic-life environments.

Newmont was one of the first signatories to the International Cyanide Management Code. The Ahafo project will be certified under the Code no later than 2008. The Ahafo team conducted a pre-operational Code compliance audit during May 2006 and the report will be publicly available at http://www.cyanidecode.org/ as soon as it is approved for publication.

Facility Layout, Monitoring and Evaluation

The facility layout and structure location implemented at Ahafo are appropriate and based on sound engineering and international best practice. The layout provides enhanced environmental protection that ensures that all facilities are controlled at key locations.

The environmental control dams (ECDs), for instance, are located at the most distant location downhill from all mine facilities to capture storm water and any resulting sediment. The ECD’s represent only one component of Ahafo’s comprehensive storm water management system.

The ECDs contain and control rain and storm water run-off which is also monitored to assure that Newmont’s environmental management system is performing properly. Newmont is in agreement with US EPA observations on monitoring and maintains numerous sampling locations, which are in close proximity to mine facilities to ensure that any future potential surface water impacts are identified and necessary preventive measures instituted or mitigation measures adopted should certain impacts, nonetheless, occur.

Newmont maintains an extensive environmental monitoring and evaluation system for the entire environment in and around the Ahafo operations area. The systems were established prior to site construction and will continue to be utilized during and after operations. Monitoring analysis and results are submitted to the Ghana EPA on a monthly basis to ensure compliance. In addition, external independent compliance monitoring will be conducted as required under the International Finance Corporation (IFC) agreements and are scheduled to begin in August 2006.

Concluding Remarks

All of the issues raised in the USAID technical review had been previously identified and included in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, conducted pursuant to Ghanaian law, and published in August 2005 (published on www.Newmont.com ). Newmont agrees that the risk-based issues highlighted in the technical review will require ongoing monitoring and analysis. Newmont will continue to evolve and advance its technical knowledge of the site as operations develop and mature in accordance with international best practice. The information and knowledge gained during the evolution of the project will be used to test our understanding and evaluate our performance, ensure that appropriate risk management practices are in place, and that our ability to achieve our commitment to protect human health and the environment is constantly improved. Newmont has also committed to public participation in our monitoring activities and intends to discuss the modalities for this to occur with the Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum. The Forum, constituted at the request of community leaders, has been active since January 2006.

Newmont remains committed to conducting its operations in Ghana in accordance with international best practice and leadership in environmental management.

For further information, please contact: Mawuena Dumor, +233 (0)21 7011852, ext 50044 or Mawuena.Dumor@Newmont.com

Media Contacts

Mawuena Dumor

Telephone: (233) 21 7011852 Ext 50044 Email: mawuena.dumor@newmont.com