Interior Department Expected To Block Ambler Road Project

As the Ambler Road project has drawn the ire of conservation, environmental groups and hunters and anglers, with a report citing potential effects on the Kobuk River, it’s now expected that the U.S. Department of the Interior will soon block the road’s construction. Here’s the Washington Post with some details:

The expected decision on Ambler Road reflects the administration’s selective approach toward boosting domestic mining of minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean-energy technologies. It underscores the challenges facing President Biden as he balances an ambitious climate agenda with the need to protect vulnerable communities and pristine wilderness.

The timing of the move, which was first reported by Politico, is still in flux, although it could come as soon as this week, according to the two people familiar with the matter. An Interior spokesman declined to comment.

Interior is expected to find that there should be “no action” on the federal land where the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) wants to build the 211-mile Ambler Road. That would prevent AIDEA from receiving a permit to build the road, and it would effectively block the mining venture Ambler Metals from accessing the planned open-pit mine. The company has yet to seek or obtain permits for the mine.