Alaska's Ambler Road: A Costly Misstep?
The Trump administration has thrown its support behind a controversial mining road in Alaska's Ambler region, but is this really a good idea?
Federal Investment and Beneficiaries
The federal government has pledged $35.6 million to Trilogy Metals, a Canadian company exploring the area. This investment is quite small for a mining company, but it certainly benefited at least one non-Alaskan: billionaire John Paulson, who saw a significant windfall from this decision.
The Ambler Road and Copper Processing
At the same time, the administration announced plans to grant permits for the construction of a 211-mile road to access potential copper mines in the Ambler region. However, there's a catch: the copper extracted from these mines is likely to be processed in China, not the U.S. This undermines the argument that the road and mines will boost U.S. mineral security.
After all, if the ore is processed overseas, the U.S. won't gain much from it.
The Cost of the Road
Building this road is no small feat. The state of Alaska would have to foot the bill, which could range from $1 billion to $2 billion. With a state budget of $15.7 billion in 2026, and a significant portion of that money already earmarked for essential services like education and Medicaid, it's unclear where the state would find the funds.
Environmental and Cultural Impacts
The environmental and cultural impacts of the road are also a major concern:
- Disruption of salmon and other fish species
- Impact on the Western Arctic caribou herd, vital to the subsistence of numerous Alaska Native villages
- Potential increase in violence against rural Alaska Native women, according to concerns raised by local communities
In fact, 88 Alaska Tribal governments have passed resolutions opposing the road.
Conclusion
Given these factors, it's hard to see how the Ambler road makes sense. Major mining companies haven't invested in the region's potential mines, China is likely to process the ore, Alaska doesn't have the funds to build the road, and the environmental and cultural impacts could be devastating.
It's time to reconsider this misguided project.
