Independent Assurance Statement by Bureau Veritas

Introduction and objectives of work

Bureau Veritas Certification was engaged by Newmont Mining to conduct an independent assurance of its 2008 Beyond the Mine Sustainability Report. This Assurance Statement applies to the related information included within the scope of work described below.

This information and its presentation in the 2008 Beyond the Mine Report are the sole responsibility of the management of Newmont Mining. Bureau Veritas was not involved in the drafting of the Report. Our sole responsibility was to provide independent assurance on its content.

Scope of Work

Newmont Mining requested Bureau Veritas to include in its independent assurance the following:

• Data and information included in 2008 Beyond the Mine report for the 2008 reporting period;
• Appropriateness and robustness of underlying reporting systems and processes, used to collect, analyze and review the information reported;
• Evaluation of the Report against the main principles of the AA1000 Assurance Standard¹ - Completeness, Materiality and Responsiveness
• Evaluation of the Report against the principles of Accuracy, Accessibility, Balance, Clarity, Comparability, Reliability, Timeliness and Stakeholder Inclusiveness, as defined in the GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines G3;
• Evaluation of the Report against the ICMM Principles For Sustainable Development

Excluded from the scope of our work is any assurance of information relating to:

• Activities outside the defined assurance period;
• Positional statements (expressions of opinion, belief, aim or future intention by Newmont Mining and statements of future commitment;

Methodology

As part of its independent assurance, Bureau Veritas undertook the following activities:

1. Interviews with relevant personnel of Newmont Mining
2. Review of documentary evidence produced by Newmont Mining;
3. Audit of performance data, a sample was audited back to the source;
4. Site visits to Ghana and Waihi, New Zealand with interviews and data review;
5. Review of Newmont Mining data and information systems for collection, aggregation, analysis and internal verification and review;
6. Verification of stakeholder engagement activities by reviewing the Community Relations Review (CRR) documentation and interviews with relevant stakeholders at the corporate level and at the visited sites.
7. Correlation of information with previous years reports.

Our work was conducted against Bureau Veritas standard procedures and guidelines for external Assurance of Sustainability Reports, based on current best practice in independent assurance. For this assignment, we used the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000, the GRI G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and the AA1000 Assurance Standard.

The work was planned and carried out to provide reasonable, rather than absolute assurance and we believe it provides a reasonable basis for our conclusions.

Our findings

On the basis of our methodology and the activities described above, it is our opinion that:

• The information and data included in 2008 Beyond the Mine report are accurate, reliable and free from material mistakes or misstatements;
• The Report provides a fair representation of Newmonts activities over the reporting period;
• The information is presented in a clear, understandable and accessible manner, and allows readers to form a balanced opinion over Newmont Minings performance and status during the 2008 reporting period;
• The Report properly reflects the organisations alignment to, and implementation of the AA1000 Assurance Standard principles of Completeness, Materiality and Responsiveness in its operations. Further detail is provided below;
• The Report includes performance data and information sufficient to demonstrate conformance with the reporting expectations for GRI G3 Level A.
• The Report presents information that adequately demonstrates alignment with the ICMM Principles for Sustainable Development.
• Newmont Mining has established appropriate systems for the collection, aggregation and analysis of relevant information;
• Newmont Mining has processes in place for consulting and engaging with its key stakeholders in a structured and systematic manner through the CRR.
• Newmont Mining has effectively implemented underlying global data collection, review, reporting and verification practices that provide a high level of confidence that the information is complete and accurate.
• Newmont management continues to develop effective processes for the embedding of sustainable management concepts and practices in the company.

Alignment with the principles of AA1000AS

Materiality

The Report addresses the range of environmental, social and economic issues of concern that Newmont Mining has identified as being of highest material importance. The identification of material issues has considered both internal assessments of risks and opportunities to the business, as well as stakeholders views and concerns. Stakeholders were polled for comment after reading the 2007 Beyond the Mine report to determine their opinion on the content, format, completeness and accuracy of the report. These comments were considered in the preparation of the 2008 report. In 2007-2008 Newmont Mining began the Community Relations Review (CRR) process and conducted interviews with hundreds of stakeholders globally. The final report was completed and reviewed by Newmonts Board of Directors. An action plan has been developed and implemented based on the results of the CRR.

Completeness

The Report accurately reflects the understanding and management of the material issues Newmont Mining has identified. All areas and activities over which the organization exercises influence or control have been considered for inclusion, without undue omission. Completeness of information has been pursued via established governance, risk management and prioritization processes. The Newmont DAW reporting processes are robust and undergo extensive review and verification/validation.

Responsiveness

Newmont Mining is responding to those issues it has identified as material and demonstrates this in its policies, objectives, indicators and performance targets. The reported information can be used by the organization and its stakeholders as a reasonable basis for their opinions and decision-making. The CRR process is ongoing.

Key areas for ongoing development

Based on the work conducted, we recommend Newmont Mining to consider the following:

• The Beyond the Mine Report is comprehensive and contains information on virtually all the identified issues for economic, social and environmental reporting. The report could be shortened considerably if it were limited to the specific year of reporting and edited to focus on information relevant to the most material issues.
• Newmont continues to refine its data collection and validation processes. The compressed timeframe for collecting and verifying the data could potentially affect the quality of reported information simply because of the volume of data collected.

Statement of independence, impartiality and competence

Bureau Veritas is an independent professional services company that specializes in Quality, Health, Safety, Social and Environmental management with over 180 years history in providing independent assurance services, and an annual turnover of $3 billion (US).

No member of the assurance team has a business relationship with Newmont Mining, its Directors or Managers beyond that required of this assignment. We have conducted this verification independently and there has been no conflict of interest.

Bureau Veritas has implemented a Code of Ethics across the business to maintain high ethical standards among staff in their day-to-day business activities.

The assurance team has extensive experience in conducting assurance over environmental, social, ethical and health and safety information, systems and processes, has over 20 years combined experience in this field and an excellent understanding of Bureau Veritas standard methodology for the Assurance of Sustainability Reports.

Bureau Veritas Certification
Houston, TX
April 23, 20090

¹Published by AccountAbility: The Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability http://www.accountability.org.uk