OPINION: Congress has a duty to back the Ambler Road Project will serve as model of doing things the right way
Editor's Note: This piece was developed in mid-June, and while much has changed on this issue since, the points are more true than ever. We wish to thank our Con- gressman and our Senators for their leadership on this important issue. BY KATI CAPOZZI, DEANTHA SKIBINSKI, REBECCA LOGAN, ALICIA AMBERG AND LEILA KIMBRELL A laska stands at a pivotal The Ambler Road — a long- planned 211-mile industrial use corridor connecting the Ambler Min- ing District to the Dalton Highway — offers a generational opportunity to unlock vital economic potential for rural communities while bolster- ing national security and supporting American manufacturing by en- suring a stable, domestic supply of critical minerals. moment and the stars have aligned for our state. This project is about more than infrastructure. It’s about creat- ing high-paying jobs in the Upper Kobuk region, attracting long-term private investment in our state, expanding local supply chains for some of our most rural communi- ties, and delivering resources like copper and cobalt that are essential to everything from electric vehicles to advanced defense systems. And it can be done the Alaskan way — with rigorous environmental standards and a commitment to community engagement. Unfortunately, this project has faced years of shifting federal deci- sions, despite long-standing legal precedent. Congress, led by the late Sen. Ted Stevens, clearly intended access to this region when it passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or ANILCA, in
1980. Yet actions by the last admin- istration have created unnecessary delays and uncertainty, undermining confidence in the permitting pro - cess and discouraging badly needed investment in our resource economy. Now, there’s renewed momen- tum within the federal government. The Trump administration has sig- naled support for the project through executive order and other federal actions and recent legislation in the Senate supports the issuance of per- mits for the Ambler Road, signaling a return to regulatory stability and recognition of this project’s national importance. It’s a critical step, and it must be followed by full congressio- nal approval — but permitting alone is not enough. To succeed, this project must also earn and maintain the social license to operate. That means continuing meaningful engagement with tribal governments, local communities, Alaska Native corporations and sub- sistence users — not just as stake- holders, but as partners. Industry must listen, respond and demon- strate a commitment to delivering shared value: local jobs, training programs, cultural protections and infrastructure that benefits commu - nities beyond the mine sites. The economic case is clear. Min- ing in Alaska already supports over 11,000 jobs and contributes more than $1 billion in wages annually. In 2023, the industry generated nearly $50 million in local taxes and $136 million in state revenue — funding schools, roads, airports and public services. The Ambler Road would amplify that impact, expanding ac- cess to remote mineral resources and connecting them to statewide supply chains via rail and port systems used by communities and businesses across Alaska. We also know resource develop- ment can coexist with environmen-
tal stewardship. Alaska’s mining sector operates under some of the most stringent environmental reg- ulations in the world. Compared to many international mineral sup- pliers — where worker exploitation and environmental damage are ram- pant — Alaska offers a safer, more ethical, and more sustainable path forward. If we want to reduce reli- ance on adversarial nations for the materials our economy and defense systems depend on, projects like the Ambler Road must move forward. But they must do so responsibly, with transparency, accountability and long-term community benefit at the center. The inclusion of supportive lan- guage in the Senate is a welcome sign. Now Congress must follow through and send a clear message: that Alaska can develop its resources responsibly, that legal access will be honored, and that infrastructure investment tied to good-paying jobs and critical mineral security is in the national interest. Done right, the Ambler Road can serve as a model — not just for how we build infrastructure in remote places, but for how we align devel- opment, environmental protection and community partnership in a rapidly changing world. Kati Capozzi is president and CEO of the Alaska Chamber
Deantha Skibinski is executive director of the Alaska Miners Association
Rebecca Logan is CEO of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance
Alicia Amberg is executive director of the Associated General Contractors of Alaska Leila Kimbrell is executive director of Resource Development Council for Alaska
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The Alaska Miner
Summer 2025
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