The proposed West Su Industrial Access Road, a 100+ mile road built with public funds that would open up a new mining district west of the Susitna Valley, garnered attention from Alaskan lawmakers during this spring’s legislative session. By and large, the legislature upheld what we’ve been saying all along—Alaskans should not be on the hook to fund a multimillion dollar road to benefit of foreign mining companies.
Here are some highlights to celebrate:
- The legislature reallocated $2.5 million within the capital budget away from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), who would have used the funds to pay for their Clean Water Act permit application process for the road.
- The legislature made it clear what projects they want the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize. The West Su Access Road was not on that list.
- In recognition that there are far more pressing things for our State to invest in, the Legislature moved $200 million from AIDEA’s $700 million slush fund back to the general fund. Unfortunately this transfer of funds was subject to a veto from the Governor, and in a move that demonstrates yet again that Dunlevy does in fact prioritize private foreign mining companies over the needs of Alaskans, he used his veto power to restore the funds to AIDEA.
While the project is still on the table, the legislators made their priorities clear: they are ready to invest in education, communities, and Alaskans, not foreign mining companies. We are grateful for the clarity and commitment that the legislature showed on this issue, and we look forward to their work ahead to ensure Alaskans don’t get duped into another massive giveaway.
This summer & fall, be on the lookout for opportunities to weigh in on the West Su project. The road is broken into three segments:
- The first 22 miles of road is being pursued by DOT
- The second 78 miles of road is being pursued by AIDEA
- The last 12 miles of road is being pursued by a private mining company
The 12 mile extension is called the Korbel Mining Road, or Portage Creek Drainage Project. The mining company, who until now was only permitted to use helicopters to access their mining claims in order to reduce the impact on the surrounding State lands and waters, is now hoping to get permitted for a permanent road under the new administration.
All three segments will require Clean Water Act permits, which trigger either an Environmental Assessment (EA) or a more rigorous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). But here’s the catch: Under Trump’s emergency order to increase mineral production in the United States, the Army Corps of Engineers now plans to fast track these reviews. They will only hold a 4 day public comment period for Environmental Assessments (EA), and a 30 day public comment period for Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).
Although the size and scope of the planned road segments warrant Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), it is likely that they will only be given Environmental Assessments (EAs). This means we may have less than a week to provide critical comments that will help build a legal case against this road. We will do our best to keep you informed and provide talking points when these opportunities open. Though the timelines are murky, we expect to see the Portage Creek Drainage project comment period open in July, the DOT comment period open in August, and the AIDEA comment period (although they have not yet applied for a 404 Clean Water Act permit) later this fall or winter. In this fast-tracked reality, we all need to stay vigilant.