Files Joint Motion with EPA to Extend Stay of Proceedings to May 4,
2017
VANCOUVER , March 20, 2017 /CNW/ - 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.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2017/20/c4007.html