Alaska Native corporation withdraws from the Ambler Road project

The Kobuk River runs done nan Ambler Mining district. (Berett Wilber/Alaska Public Media)

NANA Regional Corporation announced connected Wednesday that it plans to retreat from nan Ambler Road project, astatine slightest for now. That’s according to a press release saying nan task does not align pinch nan corporation’s values and organization interests. 

The task is simply a 211-mile projected roadworthy that would branch disconnected from nan Dalton Highway to entree mineral deposits successful Northwest Alaska. 

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority was pursuing nan multi-million dollar project, which would unfastened up entree to a region speculated to incorporate ample deposits of captious minerals, for illustration cobalt and zinc. The roadworthy would walk done federal, authorities and Native-owned land. NANA had antecedently been neutral connected nan project. 

The corp besides said successful nan merchandise that it does not scheme to renew onshore entree permits to AIDEA.

NANA said AIDEA insufficiently addressed criteria needed for nan corp to support nan Ambler Road project, for illustration protection of caribou and subsistence resources, arsenic good arsenic occupation creation and organization benefits. 

This withdrawal follows a determination past month from nan Biden management to take a “no action” replacement connected cardinal permitting documents — which fundamentally stopped nan task from moving forward. Alaska’s legislature delegation criticized nan decision. 

NANA officials wrote successful nan merchandise that nan national Bureau of Land Management’s documents “go beyond nan rule successful respective aspects.” The corp claimed that BLM did not person meaningful consultation pinch NANA and that NANA continues to defy attempts by nan national authorities to contradict Alaska Native corporations’ power complete decision-making affecting their lands. 

However, NANA is not withdrawing support for mineral exploration successful nan Ambler Mining District. A typical from NANA says nan determination does not impact nan corporation’s business pinch Ambler Metals, a mining institution pursuing improvement successful nan region.  

NANA President and CEO John Lincoln said successful nan property release, “While NANA is disengaging from nan Ambler Access Project, we support our liking successful early mineral improvement successful nan region that aligns pinch nan expectations of our shareholders.” 

Last year, nan Alaska Native corp Doyon, which owns nan onshore connected nan eastbound extremity of nan projected road, besides withdrew its support for nan project aft disputes pinch AIDEA.