Trump signs executive order approving Ambler Access Road in Alaska

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order approving construction of a 211 mile access road across northern central Alaska to reach the Ambler Mining District, reversing a decision by the previous administration that had blocked the project. The action instructs federal agencies to reissue any permits needed to complete the Ambler Access Project, which supporters say would open access to copper, cobalt, zinc and other critical minerals and opponents say would harm wildlife and Alaska Native subsistence areas.

The proposed road would extend west from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler site north of Fairbanks and include roughly 26 miles crossing Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, according to federal assessments. Project plans foresee a gravel, industrial access corridor built in phases, beginning with a single-lane pilot gravel road to enable initial mining operations. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the road would be a toll facility, not open to general public traffic, and that construction could begin as early as next spring with planning through the winter. The administration also said the federal government will take a 10 percent equity stake...