Work Program To Advance The Pebble Project

VANCOUVER, BC - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. reported that the Board of Directors of Pebble Mines Corp., the general partner of the Pebble Limited Partnership has approved a budget of approximately US$80 million to advance the Pebble Project in 2013, with the goal of initiating permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before the end of the year.

"Following a very substantial pre-permitting planning program and years of comprehensive study, the Pebble Partnership is now nearing the final stages of completing its Project Description for the Pebble Project," said Northern Dynasty President & CEO Ronald Thiessen. "By the time the Pebble Partnership triggers permitting under NEPA, more than US$700 million will have been invested to ensure a robust project design from a technical, financial, environmental and social perspective. PLP fully expects that the rigor of that work will be recognized and reflected in the outcome and efficiency of the NEPA permitting process."

Since the Pebble Partnership was established in July 2007, a subsidiary of Anglo American plc has invested approximately US$500 million to advance engineering, environmental and socioeconomic studies. When added to Northern Dynasty's initial $180 million contribution, investments in the Pebble Project total $680 million. This year the budgeted US$80 million expenditures for the Pebble Project will include: engineering studies to complete a Project Description and advance a Prefeasibility Study (PFS); continued environmental monitoring studies in key areas including groundwater hydrology, water quality and fisheries resources; site investigations, including exploration, geotechnical and metallurgical drilling, as well as geo-hydrological testing; and stakeholder engagement and public affairs programming, workforce and business development initiatives, public education and community investment.

"The Pebble Partnership will soon release a National Economic Impact Study of the Pebble Project, which together with the Workforce Development Plan and project planning updates will form the basis for an enhanced public engagement initiative this year," Thiessen said. "The Pebble Partnership will continue to meet and consult with people and communities throughout southwest Alaska about the many aspects of this project, while listening to their issues and questions and describing how the Pebble Project will be built and operated to co-exist with clean water and healthy fisheries, and provide significant benefits to the region and country."

The Pebble Project is an initiative of the Pebble Partnership to responsibly develop a globally significant copper, gold and molybdenum deposit in southwest Alaska into a modern, long-life mine, which will benefit not only the proponent and its partners, but the people, culture and industries of the State of Alaska, as well as suppliers, consultants and industries in the Lower 48 United States of America. The project is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage on state land designated for mineral exploration and development. It is situated in a region of rolling tundra approximately 1,000 feet above sea-level, 65 miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet and presents favourable conditions for successful mine site and infrastructure development.

The Pebble Project consists of the Pebble deposit, surrounding mineral claims and a stream of financing being provided by Northern Dynasty's project partner Anglo American US (Pebble) LLC. The Pebble Partnership was established in July 2007 as a 50:50 partnership between a wholly-owned affiliate of Northern Dynasty and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anglo American plc. Both Northern Dynasty and Anglo American have equal ownership and direction of the Pebble Partnership.

Under the terms of the Pebble Limited Partnership Agreement, Anglo American is required to elect to commit $1.5 billion in staged investments in order to retain its 50% interest in the Pebble Project. Funds provided by Anglo American are currently being invested in comprehensive exploration, engineering, environmental and socioeconomic programs toward the future development of the Pebble Project.