Northern Dynasty: State of Alaska Leaders and Industry Groups Fight Back Against Unwarranted and Unprecedented EPA Action

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 2, 2023 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM)(NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company" or "NDM") advises that press releases and statements were issued by the State of Alaska and industry groups on January 31, 2023 strongly objecting to the EPA's unprecedented and action to veto mining on the land where the Pebble Project is located in Southwest Alaska.

The State of Alaska issued a press release entitled "EPA's Preemptive Veto Sets Dangerous Precedent". Excerpts from the press release are found below:
"EPA's veto sets a dangerous precedent. Alarmingly, it lays the foundation to stop any development project, mining or non-mining, in any area of Alaska with wetlands and fishbearing streams," said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. "My Administration will stand up for the rights of Alaskans, Alaska property owners, and Alaska's future."

"The veto disregards the Alaska Statehood Act, violates the Clean Water Act, and departs from basic scientific methodology. Of particular concern is EPA's failure to demonstrate why the Army Corps of Engineers was wrong when it reviewed the same scientific data but arrived at the opposite conclusion-that the proposed mine plan "would not be expected to have a measurable effect on fish numbers or result in long-term changes to the health of the commercial fisheries in Bristol Bay."

"Responding to EPA's primary concern-protecting the fish and fish habitat in the Bristol Bay area-Alaska Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said, "Alaska's Title 16 permitting process would ensure protection of fish and fish habitat in the Bristol Bay area. But these statutory protections have been flouted by EPA, choked off before Alaska's expert habitat and fish biologists had the opportunity to weigh in."

The entire press release can be viewed at the following link: https://gov.alaska.gov/epas-preemptive-veto-sets-dangerous-precedent/

Alaska's Attorney General Treg Taylor was quoted in the Anchorage Daily News:
"The State remains committed to defending its property rights, including its right to develop its mineral interest for the benefit of all Alaskan citizens. EPA's decision has short-circuited the State's normal process for environmental review, and has instead substituted the opinions of purported "experts" located in Washington, DC. The future of Alaska's mineral development should be decided at home, by Alaskans. Washington's overstep into the State's process was unwarranted and should not be allowed to continue. As such, the State intends to challenge EPA's decision. The State presented strong legal and policy arguments outlining why EPA's decision is wrong and we look forward to meeting EPA in court."