Ambler Road Project

In a press release from the department, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum called the transfer a clear example of the Trump administration delivering on its promises. Burgum said the move cuts federal red tape, reduces barriers to resource development and puts land into Alaska Native hands.

Rob Rosenfeld, a consultant for several tribes that oppose the project, believes the Corps dragged its feet and should have killed the 404 permitting after the Biden administration rejected the project in June. Rosenfeld said the Corps' inaction went against the wishes of 88 tribal governments that oppose the project.

This withdrawal follows a decision last month from the Biden administration to choose a “no action” alternative on key permitting documents — which essentially stopped the project from moving forward. Alaska’s congressional delegation criticized the decision.

A Northwest Arctic regional subsistence group voted to oppose the Ambler Road project. That’s the controversial 200-mile industrial corridor that would stretch west from the Dalton Highway to gain access to a region speculated to have high concentrations of copper and other metals.

According to a press release from BLM, the S-EIS evaluated potential subsistence impacts to 66 communities, more than two times as many as were identified in a previous assessment.

The Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs passed a joint resolution earlier this month supporting the Ambler Road Project. If completed, the road would span more than 211 miles, from the Dalton Highway west to a mining region just south of the Brooks Range.But many residents of the Northwest Arctic say their voices are not being heard.

The funding from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, or AIDEA, was matched by Ambler Metals, the company hoping to use the road to access mineral deposits in the Ambler Mining District. The company’s most promising deposit is referred to as the Arctic Project.

The state of Alaska’s investment authority board has agreed to put $35 million towards the controversial Ambler Road project. The funding is matched by Ambler Metals, the mining company looking to use the road to access mineral deposits in the region

The right-of-way permit came the same day AIDEA made the majority of oil lease bids on land tracts in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Psarianos with Trustees for Alaska described these recent decisions as rushed.

The company’s plans for resource development in the region are still several years away. Most of the work right now is in preliminary surveys and drilling. Trilogy CEO Tony Giardini says getting approval from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority on the controversial Ambler Road project is the first major step in the region.