Sullivan amendment to defense bill would revive Ambler Road

Aerial position of Ambler and nan Kobuk River successful nan summer. (National Park Service)

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said he’s added an amendment to an yearly defense measure that would override nan Biden administration’s rejection of nan Ambler Road.

In a property release, Sullivan said nan amendment requires nan Interior Department to “select a viable way for nan task crossed nationalist land.”

The projected Ambler Road would tally much than 200 miles. It would commencement westbound of nan Dalton Highway and terminate successful a mineral-rich area called nan Ambler mining district, surrounding nan colony of Kobuk. The roadworthy corridor would transverse national land, including portion of Gates of nan Arctic National Park.

A 200-mile roadworthy would link nan Ambler mining territory to nan Dalton Highway. (Alaska Division of Mining, Land and Water)

The task is arguable successful nan region. Several tribes opportunity nan roadworthy is simply a threat to caribou and nan subsistence measurement of life.

The Biden management successful April rejected nan project. NANA Regional Corp. withdrew successful May, saying nan state-owned entity that’s pursuing nan road, nan Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, hadn’t addressed its concerns astir assets protection and organization benefits.

But Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski railed against nan national determination to cull nan road. They opportunity nan task would let mining of minerals captious to nationalist information and nan economy. Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola besides criticized nan rejection. She called nan determination premature, since location stakeholders were still debating it.

Sullivan’s amendment to revive nan roadworthy is successful a measure called nan National Defense Authorization Act, which has cleared nan Senate Armed Services Committee. The adjacent extremity is nan Senate floor. 

There is small further accusation available. The measure matter hasn’t been made nationalist yet and Sullivan did not assistance an question and reply request.