BLM, the U.S. Army Corps of En- gineers, and the National Park Service issued a joint record of decision in 2020 that provided the federal authorizations needed to build a road that would have fulfilled the ANILCA mandate. A year ago, however, BLM notified AIDEA that it had suspended its autho- rizations for further review. The federal land manager cited a lack of adequate consultation with Alaska tribes and evaluation of poten- tial impacts the road might have on subsistence uses as reasons to remand the previously issued authorizations. This decision is delaying the start of a road that would provide access to many of the minerals and metals need- ed to meet the Biden administration's push toward electric vehicles and re- newable energy. "When environmental groups and the federal government delay or stop projects in Alaska, they just push pro- duction to other countries. These coun- tries lack the strict protections Alaska has and the environment suffers. Alas - kans and their families end up paying the bill for environmentally damag- ing projects in other countries," Ruaro said. "Production of minerals through the Ambler project, specifically critical
Photo by Lee Leschper Randy Ruaro, Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Executive Director.
minerals, support America's nation- al defense and offset a need to import such minerals from China — a country with little to no pollution requirements that want to control and dominate crit- ical minerals the way OPEC controlled oil in the 1970s." AIDEA says it has an agreement with BLM to fund a supplemental environ- mental impact statement to address the
deficiencies cited as reasons to remand the federal land manager's authori- zation for the Ambler Road. BLM has selected SWCA Environmental Consul- tants as the third-party contractor that will support the federal agency's work to complete the final SEIS. A record of decision on the revised Ambler Road permits is expected by the end of 2023.
TEMSCO
HELICOPTERS, INC.
TIMBER EXPLORATION MINING SURVEY CARGO OPERATIONS
Serving all of Alaska since 1958
Providing innovative multidisciplinary services since 1979.
TEMSCO Helicopters, Inc. PO Box 5057, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 Phone 907-225-5141 Fax 907-225-2340 www.temscoair.com
907.561.1011 www.pndengineers.com
15
Spring 2023
The Alaska Miner
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