Faces of Mining
"The reason I joined Ambler Metals was because I believe in this project, and I also believe strongly in what this project means for Alaska. Ambler Metals will provide critical jobs for Alaska and critical economic opportunities that our state needs."
What does AMA mean to you? Alaska has outstanding trade associations advocating for our State’s economy and AMA is no ex- ception. I couldn’t ask for a better ally for our industry. Deantha and her entire team provide so much to mining and the entire natural resource development industry, whether it is in Juneau or Wash- ington, D.C. I am very thankful to have them on our side and equally thankful that I don’t have to go up against them. What do you do for fun? When I am not working, you can usually find me on a bas - ketball court coaching my three young children. As a sports par- ent of three kids, most of my free time is spent in the gym or at fields of various types. As a family, we also love to hike, fish, canoe, kayak, anything that gets us outdoors no matter where we are. All my kids love Alaskan salm- on, so you can also find us at the grill, cooking up salmon in new and fun ways, after we fish it out of the ocean, of course. Can you provide a quick update on Ambler Metals? Ambler Metals is a joint ven- ture between South 32 and Trilogy Metals. We have employees based in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and during the summer season out at Bornite and Arctic in the Ambler Mining District.
And on the Ambler road status? We’re committed to working with our partners to find a trans - portation solution. We have many great options and paths forward. Stay tuned. You eloquently said the role this work has protecting ANILCA as well as protecting the Alaska economy and jobs … can you repeat that? ANILCA stated that the Secre- tary of the Interior SHALL permit a surface transportation corridor from the Ambler Mining District, through the Gates of the Arctic to what is now called the Dalton Highway. Unfortunately, this Adminis- tration has decided that ANILCA did not matter and went ahead with an unprecedented no-ac- tion alternative. This is especially upsetting when taken in context of ANILCA, and that this surface transportation corridor was spe- cifically negotiated by the Late Senator Ted Stevens. The Department of the Interior should not choose to discard the pro-resource development com- ponents of ANILCA while simul- taneously enforcing all the con- servation components of ANILCA, that is not a deal that any State would have taken, certainly not Alaska and certainly not Sen. Ted Stevens.
FACES, CONTINUED from PAGE 18
seriously. After all, the entire na- tion desperately needs these re- sources. Alaska has the minerals that our country needs if we’re going to shift to renewable energy and electric vehicles for instance. Whether you care about the envi- ronment, energy security or our economy, Republicans, Demo- crats, and everyone in between should be able to support mining responsibly in Alaska. Develop locally! What do you see as our biggest challenges? And opportunities? By blocking any and all de- velopment in Alaska, the federal government is undermining our entire economy, harming jobs, opportunity, and State revenue. This is sending a signal to the private sector that job-creators should stay away from Alaska. But there is a tremendous op- portunity to build bipartisan con- sensus around domestic mining both locally and at the federal level. It’s just a fact that we need domestic resources for clean en- ergy technologies, for our econo- my, for our energy security and to stay competitive with China. What keeps you awake at night? As a father of three, I would have to say its my kids that keep me up most nights!
Anything else you want to share? Thank you for this opportunity.
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The Alaska Miner
Summer 2024
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