Northern Dynasty: Pebble Tailings Storage Facility designed to protect the fishery
Northern Dynasty: Pebble Tailings Storage Facility designed to protect the fishery
September 19, 2022 Vancouver – Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE American: NAK) ("Northern
Dynasty" or the "Company" or “NDM”) and the Pebble Partnership (“PLP”) highlight several design features that
enhance the safety of the tailings storage facility (“TSF”) for the Proposed Pebble Project to counter negative
generalizations repeatedly put forward by project opponents. All currency references are in U.S. dollars.
“The failure of a tailings storage facility around the world is rare. When one does occur, however, failure is often
caused by the accumulation of too much water,” said Ron Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern Dynasty. “The
tailings storage and management plan for Pebble includes an investment of approximately $500 million in modern
water treatment facilities to allow the water to be treated and safely released into the environment, meeting all
required standards, instead of accumulated. Because of this and other design features, such as constructing the
embankments on bedrock and with flatter slopes than is typical in the industry, the Army Corps of Engineers
(“USACE”) in the 2020 Environmental Impact Statement said that they could not conceive of how a failure could
occur. The fact is that Alaska has a very rigorous dam permitting process which will ensure that the facility will be
safe before it is built.”
“We invested a further $150 million in studies of the climate and potential for earthquakes in the area, conducted
by a team of industry experts to ensure that the TSF would be safe. Our studies and the research and reports out
of the United States Geological Survey (“ USGS”) demonstrate that Pebble isn’t a high seismicity area, as most
earthquakes in this region of Alaska are offshore and are almost abated by the time they reach the north shore of
Lake Iliamna/Pebble. Still our approach to seismicit y (ground movement factor) was to ensure the facilities can
withstand the likely earthquake events that might impact SW Alaska, including a repeat of the 1964 Valdez 9.2 M
earthquake. This was the largest event ever recorded in North America and the second largest ever,” Mr. Thiessen
added.
More than 30 alternative tailings sites were evaluated be fore the final site was selected to minimize the tailin gs
footprint on wetlands. In fact, our project as proposed would impact less than one mile of stream for every 1,000
miles of streams feeding into Bristol Bay.
“The reality is that there just aren’ t many salmon near to the proposed mine site. We know this because of
extensive salmon population studies we have conducted over many years. Why are these populations so small? It
may be because of the poor quality habitat, lack of surface water in the streams, or the hills that exist between
the Pebble site and the ocean, which is 120 miles away, making it a challenge for the salmon to get that far inland,
or there may be other reasons. The lack of fish living near the proposed mine site does not, however, diminish our
commitment to designing and operating a safe mine that can coexist with the Bristol Bay fishery, ” said Mr.
Thiessen.
Stephen Hodgson, P.Eng, a qualified person who is not independent of Northern Dynasty has reviewed and
approved the technical information contained in this news release.
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, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral c laims in Southwest Alaska, including the
Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the
proponent of the Pebble Project, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources.
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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 U.S. public filings at www.sec.gov.
Ronald W. Thiessen
President & CEO
U.S. 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" under the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under applicable provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements in this release,
other than statements of historical facts, which address permitting, development and production for the Pebble Project are forward-
looking statements. These include statements regarding (i) the timing of the appeal process and the ability to successfully appeal the
negative Record of Decision and secure the issuance of a positive Record of Decision by the USACE, (ii) the political and public support
for the permitting process, (iii) the ability of the Pebble Project to ultimately secure all required federal and state permits, (iv) future
metals prices, including the price of copper, (v) the right -sizing and de -risking of the Pebble Project, (vi) the design and operating
parameters for the Pebble Project mine plan, including projected capital and operating costs, (vii) exploration potential of the Pebble
Project, (viii) future demand for copper and gold, (ix) the potential addition of partners in the Pebble Project, (x) if perm itting is
ultimately secured, the ability to demonstrate that the Pebble Project is commercially viable, (xi) the EPA’s Proposed Determination
process under the CWA and the impact of this process on the ability of the Pebble Partnership to develop the Pebble Project, and (xi)
the ability and timetable of NDM to develop the Pebble Project. 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 and environmental permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble
Project, achieve the required financing or develop the Pebble Project.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by
NDM as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties a nd
contingencies. Assumptions used by NDM to develop forward-looking statements include the following assumptions, all of which are
subject to risks (i) the Pebble Project will ultimately obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other
licenses, (ii) any feasibility studies prepared for the development of the Pebble Project will be positive, (iii) NDM’s estimates of mineral
resources will not change, and NDM will be successful in converting mineral resources to mineral reserves, (iv) NDM will be a ble to
establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, (v) NDM will be able to secure the financing required to develop the Pebble
Project, and (vi) any action taken by the EPA in connection with the Proposed Determination will ultimately not be successful ly in
restricting or prohibiting development of 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) the current mine plan may not reflect the ultimate mine plan for the Pebble
Project, (ii) obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, licenses and approvals without undue delay, including without delay
due to third party opposition or changes in government policies, (iii) finalization of the mine plan for the Pebble Project, (iv) the
completion of feasibility studies demonstrating that any Pebble Project mineral resources that can be economically mined, (v)
completion of all necessary engineering for mining and processing facilities, (vi) the ability of NDM to secure a partner for the
development of the Pebble Project, and (vii) 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 als o
subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions, such as the current
uncertainties with regard to COVID -19. Investors should also consider the risk factors identified in its Annual Informati on Form for
the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed on SEDAR and included in the Company’s annual report on Form 40 -F filed by the
Company with the SEC on EDGAR, and the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2021,
as filed on SEDAR and EDGAR, for a discussion of the risks that may impact our forward-looking statements and the 2021 PEA.
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 the
Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently contemplated.
For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.