Attention Business Editors:

Review Panel submits recommendation report for Northgate's Kemess North project

     VANCOUVER, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - Northgate Minerals Corporation (TSX: NGX;
AMEX: NXG) reported today that the Joint Federal-Provincial Environmental
Review Panel for the Kemess North project (the "Project") has completed its
review and submitted its recommendation report to the federal and provincial
Ministers of the Environment.
     The Panel is satisfied, taking into account Northgate's commitments and
proposed mitigation and compensation measures, that the Project would not
likely result in significant adverse environmental effects. The Panel also
concludes that Duncan (Amazay) Lake is the only waste disposal alternative
which is environmentally effective, and technically and economically feasible.
In spite of these conclusions, the Panel has recommended to the federal and
provincial Ministers of the Environment that the Project not be approved as
proposed, but also acknowledges that the Ministers could disagree with the
Panel's advice and approve the Project.
     Over the next several days, Northgate will be reviewing the details of
the report and speaking with the federal and provincial authorities in order
to more fully understand the Panel's decision and determine how to proceed.
     The recommendation report has been released to the public and is
available on the following websites:
     -  Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency:
        www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/viewer_e.cfm?cear_id394
     -  BC Environmental Assessment Office:
        www.eao.gov.bc.ca/epic/output/html/deploy/epic_project_home_
        226.html
     NORTHGATE MINERALS CORPORATION is a gold and copper mining company
focused on operations and opportunities in the Americas. The Corporation's
principal assets are the Kemess South mine in north-central British Columbia,
the adjacent Kemess North deposit, which contains a proven and probable
reserve of 4.1 million ounces of gold and the Young-Davidson property in
northern Ontario with a total resource base of 2.1 million ounces of gold.
Northgate is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NGX and on
the American Stock Exchange under the symbol NXG.
     FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
     This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include estimates,
forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to,
among other things, future metal production and production costs, potential
mineralization and reserves, exploration results, progress in the development
of mineral properties, demand and market outlook for commodities and future
plans and objectives of Northgate Minerals Corporation (Northgate).
Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend,"
"estimate," "anticipate," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or
variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are
necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by management are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. There can
be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual
results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from Northgate's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk
and Uncertainties" in Northgate's 2006 Annual Report and under the heading
"Risk Factors" in Northgate's 2006 Annual Information Form (AIF) both of which
are filed with Canadian regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Northgate
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.

For further information: Ms. Keren R. Yun, Manager, Investor Relations, (416)
216-2781, kyun@northgateminerals.com