NEWMONT Corp DE

Our mining and exploration activities are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. We have made, and expect to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations, but cannot predict the full amount of such future expenditures. We perform a comprehensive review of our reclamation and remediation liabilities annually and review changes in facts and circumstances associated with these obligations at least quarterly. Notably, Newmont is committed to the implementation of GISTM for tailing storage facilities by 2025. Compliance with GISTM remains on-going and has and may continue to result in further increases to our estimated sustaining costs and closure costs for existing operations and non-operating sites. Additionally, laws, regulations and permit requirements focused on water management and discharge requirements for operations and water treatment in connection with closure are becoming increasingly stringent. Compliance with water management and discharge quality remains dynamic and has and may continue to result in further increases to our estimated closure costs.

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, $8,385 and $6,731, respectively, were accrued for reclamation costs relating to currently or recently producing or development stage mineral properties, of which $558 and $482, respectively, were classified as current liabilities.

In addition, we are involved in several matters concerning environmental obligations associated with former, primarily historical, mining activities. Based upon our best estimate of our liability for these matters, $401 and $373 were accrued for such obligations at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, of which $61 and $44, respectively, were classified as current liabilities. We spent $44, $56 and $43 during 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, for environmental obligations related to the former mining activities.

Reclamation and remediation adjustments during 2023 primarily related to increased water management costs at portions of our Yanacocha site operations that are no longer in production and with no expected substantive future economic value (i.e., non-operating) and higher water management costs and project execution delays at the Midnite mine and Dawn mill sites. Reclamation and remediation adjustments during 2022 primarily related to (i) increased water management costs at portions of our Yanacocha and Porcupine site operations that are non-operating (ii) increased costs due to closure plan design changes at our Porcupine site operations (iii) higher waste disposal costs and project execution delays at the Midnite mine and Dawn mill sites and (iv) higher estimated closure costs due to cost inflation.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, capital expenditures were approximately $41, $29, and $13, respectively, to comply with environmental regulations.

Our sustainability strategy is a foundational element in achieving our purpose to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining. Sustainability and safety are integrated into the business at all levels of the organization through our global policies, standards, strategies, business plans and remuneration plans. For more information on the Company’s reclamation and remediation liabilities, refer to Notes 6 and 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. For discussion of regulatory, tailings, water, climate and other environmental risks, refer to Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, for additional information.