Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) reports that the Supreme Court of Chile has issued a ruling that upholds the environmental approval for the Pascua-Lama project in Chile. Consistent with an earlier decision by the Copiapo Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court ruling requires the company to complete Pascua-Lama’s water management system in compliance with the project’s environmental permit to the satisfaction of Chile’s Superintendence of the Environment before resuming construction activities in Chile.

The ruling concludes a constitutional rights protection action filed in September 2012 on behalf of four indigenous communities.

Barrick is committed to operating at the highest environmental standards at all of its operations around the world, including at Pascua-Lama. The company is pleased that the ruling allows the project to advance in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

Barrick has submitted a plan to Chilean regulatory authorities which estimates completion of the water management system by the end of 2014. The estimated timeframe for completion of these works is dependent on regulatory approval of specific permit applications.