Pebble Partnership retains ASRC Energy Services 

VANCOUVER, BC - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alaska-based Pebble Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership" or "PLP") has contracted ASRC Energy Services, Alaska Inc. ("AES"), a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation ("ASRC"), to work with the Pebble Project's Alaska Native village corporation partners in an effort to enhance future Alaska Native contracting opportunities at Pebble.

"As we gear up for our 2017 field season and prepare to take the Pebble Project into federal and state permitting, we are also renewing our commitment to maximize contract and employment opportunities for local companies and local people," confirmed Pebble Partnership CEO Tom Collier. "We know very well the challenging economic circumstances that confront Alaska Native village corporations and their shareholders in southwest Alaska, and we are making investments now to ensure they will benefit to the greatest extent possible at each stage of the Pebble Project's development – during permitting, construction, operations and even closure."

AES consultants will lead a collaborative business development planning initiative to include Alaska Native village corporations with land holdings near the Pebble Project site, and who have had contract relationships with PLP in the past. The goal of the engagement is to inform an Alaska Native contracting strategy for Pebble – one that establishes complementary contracting roles for participating village corporations, and directs strategic business development investments to enhance local companies' capabilities to fulfill Pebble's future contracting needs.

"For the past 10 years or more, Pebble has had a local contracting and local employment preference to ensure our project provides meaningful benefits for local people," Collier said. "But as we move forward into permitting, it is the appropriate time for PLP to invest in a more formalized business development program to ensure that Alaska Native village corporations in our region will have the experience and capacity necessary to provide contract services when this project advances to construction and operations."

Collier said ASRC Energy Services was selected to lead Pebble's business development initiative based on its experience working with Alaska Native village corporations to optimize business opportunities associated with resource development on the North Slope.