Ambler Road: Difference between revisions

The Ambler Mineral Belt contains valuable deposits of copper, cobalt, and cobaltother minerals. After access to the area by [[Rail transport|rail]] or [[barge]] was determined to be unfeasible, the [[Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities|Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities]] began working toward building a road. This project was transferred to AIDEA in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=11&projectID=37092&documentID=105431 |title=Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project Environmental and Economic Analysis |date=July 2020 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |pages=3}}</ref>

In 2020, the BLM released its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposal, selecting AIDEA's proposed 211-mile route as its preferred alternative. This conclusion was challenged in court by environmentalistenvironmental and tribal groups, leading the BLM to begin work on a broader Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that would evaluateshortcomings impacts not covered byin the initial EIS.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Michael |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Interior reverses course on Trump-approved Alaska mining road |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-reverses-course-on-trump-approved-alaska-mining-road/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224101339/https://www.eenews.net/articles/interior-reverses-course-on-trump-approved-alaska-mining-road/ |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=[[E&E News]]}}</ref>

The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was released in late 2023 and concluded that 66 communities would see their [[Subsistence economy|subsistence]] practices negatively impacted by the project instead of the 27 included in the initial EIS.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Friedman |first=Lisa |date=April 18, 2024 |orig-date=April 16, 2024 (updated) |title=Interior Said to Reject Industrial Road Through Alaskan Wilderness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/climate/ambler-road-alaska-interior.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426144619/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/climate/ambler-road-alaska-interior.html |archive-date=April 26, 2024 |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The SEIS was finalized in April of 2024, with the BLM this time selecting "no action" as its preferred alternative. This decision was announced at the same time as new restrictions on development within the [[National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska]] were finalized.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Biden-Harris Administration Takes Critical Action to Protect Alaska Native Subsistence, Lands and Wildlife |url=https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-takes-critical-action-protect-alaska-native-subsistence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503223745/https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/biden-harris-administration-takes-critical-action-protect-alaska-native-subsistence |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |access-date=May 9, 2024 |website=[[U.S. Department of the Interior]]}}</ref> BLM's decision drew criticism from industry groups, the Alaska state government, and Alaska's congressional delegation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Rosen |first=Yereth |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Biden administration rejection of Ambler road project both panned and celebrated in Alaska |url=https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/04/19/biden-administration-rejection-of-ambler-road-project-both-panned-and-celebrated-in-alaska/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506233828/https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/04/19/biden-administration-rejection-of-ambler-road-project-both-panned-and-celebrated-in-alaska/ |archive-date=May 6, 2024 |access-date=May 2, 2024 |work=[[Alaska Beacon]]}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

[[NANA Regional Corporation]] announced in May 2024 that it would not renew its land use agreement with AIDEA. NANA stated that it disagreed with AIDEA's management of the Ambler Road project, but continued to support future mine development and would maintain its partnership with Ambler Metals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rosen |first=Yereth |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Alaska Native corporation ending involvement in controversial Ambler road project |url=https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/05/09/alaska-native-corporation-ending-involvement-in-controversial-ambler-road-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509193341/https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/05/09/alaska-native-corporation-ending-involvement-in-controversial-ambler-road-project/ |archive-date=May 9, 2024 |work=[[Alaska Beacon]]}}</ref>

Opponents of the project have cited the potential environmentalnegative impacts on the regional environment, culturalculture, and subsistence impactspractices offrom the road itself and subsequent mining projects. There has a been a particular focus on potential disruptions of [[caribou]] migration patterns, as well as the impact on downstreamrivers, wetlands, [[fisheries]] and fish populations from any future releases of mining waste.<ref name=":3" /> There has also been concern that the road could be opened to the public—as happened with the Dalton Highway—potentially allowing [[Sport hunting|outside hunters]] and [[Rum-running|bootleggers]] to more easily access the region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Downey |first=Shield |date=January 11, 2023 |orig-date=January 10, 2023 (updated) |title=OPINION: There’s a lot of talk about what we’d gain from the Ambler Road. But what would we lose? |url=https://www.adn.com/opinions/2023/01/10/opinion-theres-a-lot-of-talk-about-what-wed-gain-from-the-ambler-road-but-what-would-we-lose/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208154143/https://www.adn.com/opinions/2023/01/10/opinion-theres-a-lot-of-talk-about-what-wed-gain-from-the-ambler-road-but-what-would-we-lose/ |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |access-date=May 8, 2024 |work=[[Anchorage Daily News]]}}</ref>

A group of regional residents called Protect the Kobuk has organized opposition to the road in the [[Northwest Arctic Borough]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Protect the Kobuk |url=https://www.protectthekobuk.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516104723/https://www.protectthekobuk.org/ |archive-date=May 16, 2024}}</ref>

Supporters of the projectAmbler Access Project have cited its potential to bring jobs and economic growth to the region. They have also pointed out that the minerals that could be extracted from the Ambler Region would aid the nation's transition to [[clean energy]] and [[Electric vehicle|electric vehicles]]. Supporters have warned that if mining projects in the United States are blocked, the same minerals will have to be sourced from countries with weaker protections for [[human rights]] and the environment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feige |first=Corri |date=Mar 5, 2022 |title=Revisiting Ambler decision contradicts White House clean energy targets |url=https://alaska-native-news.com/revisiting-ambler-decision-contradicts-white-house-clean-energy-targets/60402/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306233305/https://alaska-native-news.com/revisiting-ambler-decision-contradicts-white-house-clean-energy-targets/60402/ |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |access-date=May 8, 2024 |work=Alaska Native News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Benefits |url=https://ambleraccess.org/About/Benefits |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=Ambler Access Project}}</ref>