www.AlaskaMiners.org 11 The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a quasi-public corporation better known as AIDEA, plans to build that vital transportation link and recoup the construction and maintenance costs from tolls charged to companies that develop mines in the district. In 2020, BLM and the National Park Service (NPS) issued AIDEA the federal permits needed to build a road and meet the Congressional mandate outlined in ANILCA. In 2022, however, BLM suspended the authorizations for further review. The federal land manager cited a lack of adequate consultation with Alaska tribes and evaluation of potential impacts the road might have on subsistence uses as reasons to reevaluate the previously issued authorizations. Over the past two years, BLM has been reanalyzing the proposed road, including further subsistence studies and additional tribal consultation. In October, BLM published a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) incorporating the findings from its extra analysis. "The latest draft includes additional data and analysis informed by robust Tribal consultation and cooperation, on-the-ground perspectives, and public input," BLM Alaska State Director Steve Cohn said at the time. Gov. Dunleavy and AIDEA officials are urging BLM to take into consideration recent resolutions in support of the Ambler Road from several rural Alaska communities that would be impacted by the project. This support includes strong endorsements for the road by the villages of Ruby and Hughes over the past couple of weeks. Recognizing the important role responsible resource development plays for residents living in Northwest Alaska, on March 20, the Ruby Tribal Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Ambler Road. "The Ruby Tribal Council is dedicated to ensuring jobs and opportunities for our children and grandchildren," said Ruby Tribal Council First Chief Patrick McCarty. "The resolution stands as a testament to our village's dedication to responsible resource development." Less than a week later, Hughes Village passed its own resolution for similar reasons. "This resolution embodies our dedication to responsible resource development and securing a prosperous future for our younger and coming generations," said Hughes Village Chief Thelma Nicholia. Due to the importance of responsible economic development for future generations, the village believes there should be a subtle shift in the narrative for Ambler Road. "The right question to ask is not 'what happens to our communities and Tribal members if a road is built and mining occurs?' but 'what happens to our communities and Tribal members if a road is not built and no jobs or opportunity exists for our children and future generations?" the Tribe wrote. This reframing of the Ambler Road question first voiced by Larry Westlake Sr., an elder from the village of Kiana, is why Hughes Village has come out in favor of the Ambler Road. "Supporting the Ambler Road is our way of steering towards a path of economic strength and job creation," said Chief Nicholia. "Our commitment to our community's future is unwavering." BACKUP POWER FOR ANY NEED. You need genuine power to keep you operating during an outage. From expansive data centers to your local gas station, Generac Industrial Power’s standby solutions ensure that you have the power to help meet your business needs, while our factory-certified technicians provide the most advanced service support to keep you productive. Find out what power solution is right for you. SMSEQUIPMENT.COM
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==