Northern Dynasty Releases 'Request for Appeal' (RFA) of Pebble Project Permitting Decision

Rhea-AI Summary

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. has filed a 'request for appeal' (RFA) against the US Army Corps of Engineers' negative Record of Decision regarding the Pebble Project in Alaska. The company believes the decision is legally unfounded and urges stakeholders to review the RFA, which highlights the importance of the project for Alaska's resource development. The appeal process is expected to conclude within 90 days, dependent on USACE's response. The Pebble Project aims to develop a significant mineral resource but faces regulatory hurdles despite previous environmental findings.

Positive

• Submission of the RFA indicates ongoing commitment to the Pebble Project.
• The State of Alaska has also submitted a request, indicating potential support for the project.

Negative

• The USACE issued a negative Record of Decision denying a key permit under the Clean Water Act.
• The publication of the ROD suggests ongoing regulatory challenges for the Pebble Project's development.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2021 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM)(NYSE:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") reports it has posted to the Company's website its 100%-owned, US-based subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership's (the "Pebble Partnership") ‘request for appeal' ("RFA") of the US Army Corps of Engineers' ("USACE") recent issuance of a negative Record of Decision for Alaska's Pebble Project.

"There are some very compelling arguments persuasively presented in the Pebble Partnership's RFA, and we encourage all our shareholders and others interested in responsible resource development in Alaska and the United States to review them carefully," said Northern Dynasty President & CEO Ron Thiessen.

"We believe our submission clearly demonstrates the USACE's Record of Decision for the Pebble Project is contrary to law, unprecedented in Alaska and fundamentally unsupported by the administrative record. These are matters not only of concern to Northern Dynasty and its investors, but to all Alaskans."

The State of Alaska has also submitted an RFA to the USACE addressing its concerns as the owner of land and sub-surface mineral resources at Pebble.

A full version of the Pebble Partnership's RFA can be viewed at: https://northerndynastyminerals.com/site/assets/files/4888/plp-request-for-appeal-poa-2017-00271-jan-19-2021.pdf .

The USACE published a final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed copper-gold-molybdenum-silver-rhenium mine in July 2020, finding that Pebble would "not have measureable effects" on fish populations or fisheries in southwest Alaska. Despite this, the lead federal regulator published a ROD on November 25, 2020 denying Pebble a key permit under the Clean Water Act on the grounds that its ‘compensatory mitigation plan' is non-compliant and the project is not in the ‘public interest.'

The Pebble Partnership submitted its RFA to the USACE's Pacific Ocean Division Engineer in Hawaii on January 19, 2021, in advance of the 60-day deadline following the permitting decision. The USACE has 30 days from receipt to notify the Pebble Partnership as to whether its RFA is complete. USACE guidelines indicate the administrative appeal process should conclude within 90 days, although it may be extended under certain circumstances.

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 2,402 mineral claims 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.

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" under applicable law. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address permitting, development and production for the Pebble Project 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 ability to successfully appeal the negative Record of Decision and secure 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 permits, (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 copper 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. Assumptions 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 required 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 construction 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 demonstrating 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 the 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 the Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently contemplated. 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

SOURCE: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/626127/Northern-Dynasty-Releases-Request-for-Appeal-RFA-of-Pebble-Project-Permitting-Decision

FAQ

What is the purpose of Northern Dynasty's request for appeal regarding the Pebble Project?

Northern Dynasty's RFA aims to contest the US Army Corps of Engineers' negative Record of Decision regarding the Pebble Project's permit.

What are the main arguments in Northern Dynasty's RFA for Pebble Project?

The RFA argues that the USACE's decision is legally unsupported and unprecedented in Alaska.

What is the timeline for the appeal process for the Pebble Project?

The USACE has 30 days to confirm the RFA's completeness, with the appeal process expected to conclude within 90 days.

What did the USACE conclude in the Environmental Impact Statement for the Pebble Project?

The USACE noted that the Pebble Project would not have measurable effects on fish populations or fisheries in southwest Alaska.

What are the potential implications of the negative Record of Decision for Northern Dynasty shareholders?

The negative ROD presents a significant hurdle for the Pebble Project, potentially affecting future permitting and development.