Northern Dynasty: Compensatory Mitigation Plan for Alaska’s Pebble Project submitted to US Army Corps of Engineers

Northern Dynasty: Compensatory Mitigation Plan for Alaska’s Pebble Project

submitted to US Army Corps of Engineers

November 16 , 2020 Vancouver – Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE American: NAK)

("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") announces that its 100%-owned US-based subsidiary Pebble Limited

Partnership (the “Pebble Partnership”) has submitted a Compensatory Mitigation Plan (“CMP”) for the

Pebble Project to the US Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) ahead of the 90 -day deadline that expires on

November 18, 2020.

Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership believe the submitted CMP fully satisfies mitigation

requirements for the proposed copper-gold-molybdenum-silver-rhenium mine in southwest Alaska.

Following publication of a positive Final Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) in July 2020, the USACE

published its mitigation requirements for Pebble on August 20, 2020 and provided the Pebble Partnership

with 90 days to su bmit a CMP to address them. Filing an approved CMP for the project is a necessary

prerequisite to receiving a federal Record of Decision (“ROD”).

“The ‘in-kind’ and ‘in-watershed’ requirement for mitigation the USACE established for Pebble clearly sets a

high bar for offsetting project effects on wetlands and other aquatic features , but it’s a challenge we have

embraced and believe we can achieve,” said Ron Thiessen, Northern Dynasty President & CEO.

“Based on the findings of the Final EIS, we already know Pebble can operate safely and reliably, while fully

protecting the water, fish and wil dlife resources of Bristol Bay. M eeting the USACE’s challenging mitigation

requirements provides even greater evidence that Pebble can and will co-exist with commercial, subsistence

and sport fisheries in southwest Alaska.”

In addition to meeting the rigorous environmental standards enforced in the Clean Water Act and other US

federal legislation, Thiessen said the Final EIS for Pebble indicates the project will make important, positive

socioeconomic contributions to the region, the state and the nation.

“Pebble will also deliver the critical and strategic minerals the United States requires for its econo mic and

military security,” he said, “while helping facilitate the transition to a ‘lower carbon future.’”

Thiessen said Pebble Partnership technical/permitting staff and expert, third-party consultants in Alaska have

prepared a high -quality mitigation pl an to fully satisfy the lead federal agencies’ requirements – including

undertaking extensive field investigations this summer and fall. He cautioned Pebble won’t be releasing any

details about the CMP until it is accepted by the USACE and posted to its website.

“We have an experienced team in Alaska that has identified both the means and mechanism to meet the ‘in-

kind’ and ‘in watershed’ mitigation requirements, and complete a CMP that we believe will be acceptable to

the USACE in form and content,” he said. “Until this work is complete d to the Corps’ full satisfaction, we

won’t be discussing the details of our plan.”

There is no statutory timeline for the USACE’s review of the Pebble CMP. Northern Dynasty’s current

expectation is that its sufficiency will be confirmed prior to or concurrent with issuance of a final Record of

Decision.

About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern

Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska -based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited

Partnership (“PLP”), is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 2,402 mineral claims in southwest Alaska,

including the Pebble deposit. PLP is the proponent of the Pebble Project, 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.northerndynastyminerals.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

US Media Contact:

Dan Gagnier

Gagnier Communications

(646) 569-5897

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. These statements include statements regarding (i) the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (ii)

the social integration of the Pebble Project into the Bristol Bay region and benefits for Alaska, (iii) the political and public support for

the permitting process, (iv) the issuance of a positive Record of Decision by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the ability of the

Pebble Project to secure state permit s, (v) the right -sizing and de -risking of the Pebble Project, (vi) the design and operating

parameters for the Pebble Project mine plan, (vii) exploration potential of the Pebble Project, (viii) future demand for copp er and

gold, (ix) the potential partnering of the Pebble Project, and (x) the ability and timetable of NDM to develop the Pebble Project and

become a leading copper, gold and molybdenum producer. Although NDM believes the expectations expressed in these forward -

looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that

the Pebble Project will secure all required government permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project or develop

the Pebble Project. Assump tions used by NDM to develop forward -looking statements include the assumptions that (i) the Pebble

Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses without undue delay, (ii) studies

for the development of the Pebble Project will be positive, (iii) NDM’s estimates of mineral resources will not change, (iv) NDM will

be able to establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, and (v) NDM will be able to secure the financing requi red to

develop the Pebble Project. 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 (i) obtaining necessary mining and constructio n

permits, licenses and approvals without undue delay, including without delay due to third party opposition or changes in government

policies, (ii) finalization of the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (iii) the completion of feasibility studies demonstratin g that any

Pebble Project mineral resources that can be economically mined, (iv) completion of all necessary engineering for mining and

processing facilities, (v) the inability of NDM to secure a partner for the development of the Pebble Project, and (vi) receipt by NDM

of significant additional financing to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction, which financing may not be available

to NDM on acceptable terms or on any terms at all. NDM is also subject to the specific risks inherent in th e mining business as well

as general economic and business conditions, such as the current uncertainties with regard to COVID-19.

The National Environment Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement process requires a comprehensive “alternatives assessment”

be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for th e

Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that contemplated in this presentation. As a result, the

Company will continue to consider various development options and no final project design has been selected at this time.

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