Files Joint Motion with EPA to Extend
Stay of Proceedings to May 4,
2017
VANCOUVER,
March 20, 2017
/PRNewswire/ - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.
(TSX: NDM; NYSE MKT: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company")
announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alaska-based Pebble
Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership" or "PLP") and the US
Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") have filed a Joint Motion
in federal court to extend a stay of proceedings in ongoing
litigation under the Federal Advisory Committee Act ("FACA") to
May 4, 2017 in the interest of
resolving the matter.
The Company has made substantial progress in recent
discussions with the EPA and intends to continue negotiating the
matter directly, rather than through mediation. Government
representatives are actively engaged in these discussions and,
along with the Pebble Partnership, are focused on achieving a
resolution that will be agreeable to both parties. In the meantime,
the Court's Preliminary Injunction of November 25, 2014, will remain in effect for the
duration of any stay.
"Active discussions between all parties involved have been
positive and very constructive," said Tom
Collier, CEO of the Pebble Partnership. "We remain confident
in achieving a prompt and fair resolution that follows the rule of
law, supports the interests of the parties involved and allows the
Pebble Project to move into a normal course permitting
process."
About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.
Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development
company based in Vancouver,
Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset is the Pebble
Project in southwest Alaska,
USA, an initiative to develop one of the world's most
important mineral resources.
For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble
Project, please visit the Company's website at
www.northerndynasty.com or contact Investor services at (604)
684-6365 or within North America
at 1-800-667-2114. Review Canadian public filings at www.sedar.com
and US public filings at www.sec.gov.
Ronald W.
Thiessen
President &
CEO
Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary
Factors
This release includes certain
statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All
statements in this release, other than statements of historical
facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities
and events or developments that the Company expects are
forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the
expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way
construed as guarantees of the ultimate size, quality or commercial
feasibility of the Pebble Project or of the Company's future
performance or the outcome of litigation. Assumptions used by the
Company to develop forward-looking statements include the
following: the Pebble Project will obtain all required
environmental and other permits and all land use and other
licenses, studies and development of the Pebble Project will
continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems
will occur. The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble
Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require
achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal
objectives, including obtaining necessary mining and construction
permits, approvals, licenses and title on a timely basis and delays
due to third party opposition, changes in government policies
regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation,
the final outcome of any litigation, completion of pre-feasibility
and final feasibility studies, preparation of all necessary
engineering for surface or underground mining and processing
facilities as well as receipt of significant additional financing
to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. Such
funding may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or
on any terms at all. There is no known ore at the Pebble Project
and there is no assurance that the mineralization at the Pebble
Project will ever be classified as ore. The need for compliance
with extensive environmental and socio-economic rules and practices
and the requirement for the Company to obtain government permitting
can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project. The
Company is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the
mining business as well as general economic and business
conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should
review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are
available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.