UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
CIK #1164771
As at April 15, 2009
NORTHERN
DYNASTY MINERALS LTD.
800 West Pender Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F....... Form 40-F.... X.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of
a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes ..... No .....
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Marchand Snyman
Director and Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 15, 2009
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
1020 -
800 W Pender St.
Vancouver BC
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel 604 684-6365
Fax 604 684-8092
Toll Free 1 800 667-2114
http://www.northerndynasty.com
33 ALASKA COMMUNITY GROUPS RECEIVE PEBBLE FUND
GRANTS TOTALING $1 MILLION
April 9, 2009, Vancouver, BC - Northern Dynasty
Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE Amex: NAK) announces that the Pebble Fund
for Sustainable Bristol Bay Fisheries and Communities, established by
the Pebble Limited Partnership ("PLP" or the "Pebble Partnership")
last year, will dispense its first $1 million in grants to 33 successful
applicants this spring.
The Pebble Fund was established in February 2008 as a five-year,
$5 million commitment to support community-led initiatives that enhance
the health of Bristol Bay fisheries and contribute to a sustainable economic
future in southwest Alaska. Administered by the non-profit Alaska Community
Foundation, Pebble Fund grant criteria and awards were determined
by an independent advisory board of citizens representing communities from
throughout the Bristol Bay region.
"Pebble is a globally significant copper-gold-molybdenum deposit whose
development has the potential to provide employment and business opportunities
for generations of Alaskans, as well as other social and economic benefits
for the communities of Bristol Bay," said Northern Dynasty President
& CEO Ron Thiessen. "Although the project is still several years
away from permitting and operations, the Pebble Partnership is committed
to ensuring that local communities benefit at every stage of project development.
"That's what the Pebble Fund and today's announcement
is all about; ensuring that Pebble provides a more sustainable future for
the communities of southwest Alaska now and in the future."
Based in Anchorage AK, 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. To retain its 50% interest,
Anglo American is required to continue its staged investment of $1.425 billion
to advance the Pebble Project toward permitting and operations.
"One of our core principles is to help build sustainable communities
and that is why we started the Pebble Fund," said Pebble Partnership
CEO John Shively. "I am pleased and encouraged that the Pebble Fund
board was able to meet a diverse cross section of community needs in the
Bristol Bay region. This clearly demonstrates we will meet our commitments,
and we are looking forward to the next round of applications and grants
later this year."
In total, some 50 non-profit community organizations in southwest Alaska
applied for Pebble Fund grants in 2009 for projects related to community
development, education, energy and fisheries. The Pebble Fund board selected
33 successful applicants, including 26 small grant (<$25,000) and seven
large grant (>$25,000) recipients.
Projects receiving small grant awards include a community greenhouse development
in Ugashik, alternative energy and wind development projects in the City
of Chignik and Chignik Lagoon, and a vocational training program for clean
diesel technology in the Bristol Bay School District. Large grant awards
will fund fisheries enhancement and education projects in Pilot Point and
Ivanoff Bay, a renewable energy development project in Iguigig and a broad-based
job internship program for students in the Lake and Peninsula School District,
among others.
"Villages in rural Alaska are facing some serious challenges, including
high energy and transportation costs, limited investment and job opportunities,
and out-migration," said Ron Thiessen. "We believe the Pebble Fund
can start to address those challenges by funding projects that are developed,
delivered and selected by the people who know this region best - the
communities of Bristol Bay."
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. is a mineral development company, based in
Vancouver, Canada, whose principal assets are a 50% interest in the Pebble
copper-gold-molybdenum deposit in southwest Alaska and 153 square miles
of associated resource lands, as well as a partnership funding agreement
with Anglo American. Pebble is the world's most extensive undeveloped
copper-gold porphyry system, with the grades and metallurgy to support a
modern, long-life mine.
For further details on Northern Dynasty please visit the Company's website
at www.northerndynasty.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 and CEO
Sole Responsibility
No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy
of this release.
Northern Dynasty is solely and entirely responsible for the contents of
this news release. No other party, including any parties which have an interest
in the project, are in any way responsible for the contents hereof.
Comments on Forward Looking Information, Estimates
and other Cautionary Factors
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking
statements". All statements in this release, other than statements
of historical facts, especially those that address estimated resource quantities,
grades and contained metals, are forward-looking statements because they
are generally made on the basis of estimation and extrapolation from a limited
number of drill holes and metallurgical studies. Although diamond drill
hole core provides valuable information about the size, shape and geology
of an exploration project, there will always remain a significant degree
of uncertainty in connection with these valuation factors until a deposit
has been extensively drilled on closely spaced centers, which has occurred
only in specific areas on the Pebble Project. Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed
as guarantees of the ultimate size, quality or commercial feasibility of
the Pebble Project or of the Company's future performance. 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 obtaining necessary mining and
construction permits, completion of pre-feasibility and final feasibility
studies, preparation of all necessary engineering for underground workings
and processing facilities as well as receipt of significant additional financing
to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction. Such funding
may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or on any terms
at all. There is no known ore at the Pebble Project and there is no
assurance that the mineralization at the Pebble Project will ever be classified
as ore. The need for compliance with extensive environmental and socio-economic
rules and practices and the requirement for the Company to obtain government
permitting can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project. The
Company is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business
as well as general economic and business conditions. For more information
on the Company, Investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F
filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and its
home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.