Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE Amex: NAK): Alaska Superior Court Confirms Pebble Exploration Permits

State of Alaska and Pebble Limited Partnership prevail in latest case of anti-development litigation

October 4, 2011, Vancouver, BC – Alaska Superior Court Judge Eric Aarseth has ruled in favour of the State of Alaska and the Pebble Limited Partnership (the “Pebble Partnership” or “PLP”) in a case brought by anti-Pebble activists who charged that the state’s system for permitting mineral exploration activity is unconstitutional, and that PLP’s exploration program has caused environmental harm.

“This is not the first time that paid opponents of resource development in Alaska have sought to use the state’s court system and its democratic processes to derail the Pebble Project before a development plan for the project has been proposed or state and federal permitting begun,” confirmed Ron Thiessen President & CEO of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (“Northern Dynasty”) (TSX: NDM), (NYSE Amex: NAK). “We are pleased to see that, once again, the rule of law has prevailed. This decision confirms that mineral resources on state land in Alaska are owned by the citizens of the State, and the right to pursue responsible development of those resources for the benefit of all Alaskans cannot be extinguished by moneyed special interests.”...