FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
AIDEA & Ambler Metals Respond to BLM Delays in the Timeline for Ambler Access Project
May23,2023-(Anchorage,Alaska)–OnFriday,May19th,theU.S.Departmentofthe Interior(DOI)fileditssixthstatusreportwiththeU.S.DistrictCourtfortheDistrictof AlaskasummarizingtheDepartment’sprogressinthevoluntaryremandoftheRecordof Decision(ROD)ontheEnvironmentalImpactStatementfortheAmblerAccessProject. In thelatestreport,theDepartmentindicatedthereleaseoftheRODfortheproject,originally plannedfortheendof2023,willnowoccurduringthesecondquarterof2024–adelayof sixmonths.
InresponsetoDOI’supdate,AIDEAExecutiveDirectorRandyRuarosaid,“Theupdatefrom BLMisfrustrating. ThisdelaynotonlyimpactsAIDEAandourpartnerswithadditional costs,butitalsoimpactsindividuals,communities,andtheStatewhowouldliketoseethe economicbenefits,futurejobsandrevenuethatcomewithconstructionandoperationof theroad.”
Afteralengthyandrigorouspermittingprocess,theAmblerAccessProjectwasawardeda positiveRODin2020. In2022,theDOIfiledamotiontoremandtheRODontheEISto addressareasrelatedtoCulturalResourcesandSubsistenceMatters.
“WeareobviouslydisappointedtohearthelateststatusupdatefromtheDepartmentof Interior IthasbeenayearsincethecourtgrantedDOI’srequestforavoluntaryremandof
thepermit,providingampletimefortheDepartmenttoconducttheneededsupplemental workontheEIS”,saidRamziFawaz,President&CEOofAmblerMetals.“Thisunnecessary delaythreatensaprojectthatwillprovidemuch-neededjobsandeconomicgrowthfor Alaskans,whilealsostrengtheningnationalsecurityandexpeditingthetransitiontoaclean energyeconomythatissupposedlyatoppriorityoftheBidenAdministration.Interior needstostopdraggingitsfeetandcompletethisprocessandallowthisroadtobebuilt,as itisalreadyrequiredbyfederallaw.”
“Untillastweek’sstatusreport,theU.S.DepartmentoftheInteriorconsistentlypromiseda RODbytheendof2023,”Fawazadded“DOInowstatestheRODisexpectedsixmonths later,withnojustificationforthedelayorassurancesthattherewillbenofurther slippage.”
TheDepartment’snextreportisdueonJuly18.
About AIDEA:
AIDEAisapubliccorporationofthestatewhosepurposeistopromote,develop,and advancejobsandeconomicdevelopmentforAlaska.Thesegoalsarestronglysupportedby GovernorDunleavyandtheAIDEABoardofDirectors.
About Ambler Metals:
Ambler Metals is a 50:50 independently operated LLC. The South32:Trilogy Metals Partnership was formed in 2017 through a 3-year exploration option agreement. Ambler Metals was formally established February 11, 2020, including a partnership with NANA Regional Corporation for the exploration and development of the UKMP and advancing projects in the Ambler Mining District. Ambler Metals is an Alaskan CompanywithofficesinAnchorageandFairbanks.