Conflict of Interest Disclosure

The conflict of interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determines that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on Potential Impacts of Goldmining in Virginia because he owns Sphinx Mining Systems, a company that consults with companies in the mining industry, including Barr Engineering, Weir International, and Vale International.

The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one person who has current detailed knowledge of mine design and developing sustainable mining practices. The task requires that the committee describe the types of modern gold mining operations used with comparable deposits and the potential impact of the mining and processing to air and water quality. This requires that the committee include someone who has expertise in mine planning and design, specifically the means by which a mine can be operated in the most sustainable manner with minimal environmental hazards. As described in his biographical summary, Dr. Awuah-Offei has extensive experience developing sustainable mining practices from a mining engineering perspective, and has contributed to the academic literature and industrial practice in mine reclamation, modeling, simulation, and mine life cycle assessment.

The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Dr. Awuah-Offei is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.

The National Academies believes that Dr. Awuah-Offei can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.


Jami Dwyer has a conflict of interest in relation to her service on the Potential Impacts of Goldmining in Virginia because her spouse holds stock in SSR Mining, a mining company focused on the operation, development, exploration and acquisition of precious metal projects.

The National Academies concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one person who has detailed first-hand knowledge of gold mine management and operations. As described in her biographical summary, as a General Supervisor for the Goldstrike mine operated by Barrick Gold Corporation, and as a senior industry expert in gold and precious metals mining at Barr Engineering Company, Jami Dwyer has extensive experience in managing gold mine operations, including operations in mine safety and health, rock mechanics, blasting, mine design, and technological innovation.

The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Jami Dwyer is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.

The National Academies believes that Jami Dwyer can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.


Dr. Scott Olson has a conflict of interest in relation to his service on the Committee on Potential Impacts of Goldmining in Virginia because he currently consults with companies with some interests in the gold mining industry (Statum and Intertechne); and is on the Steering Committee of the Tailings and Industrial Waste Engineering (TAILENG) Center that conducts research related to mine tailings and tailings storage facilities, which is supported through donations from numerous firms involved in the mining industry.

The National Academies has concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one person who has current and detailed knowledge of environmental engineering as it pertains to tailings management. The task requires that the committee evaluate the impacts of potential gold mining and processing operations on public health, safety, and welfare. Tailings dam failure and contamination of the surface and groundwater by improperly managed tailings are arguably the greatest risks of gold mining and processing to public welfare and health. As described in his biographical summary, Dr. Olson has extensive experience as a consultant for numerous clients providing advice on tailings dam engineering. Dr. Olson also has specialized expertise in research related to static liquefaction and geotechnical earthquake engineering, which are two of the top design issues related to tailings dam failure and ground and surface water contamination.

The National Academies has determined that the experience and expertise of Dr. Scott Olson is needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who does not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies has concluded that the conflict is unavoidable.

The National Academies believes that Dr. Scott Olson can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.