The 211-mile (340-km) road, which would enable mining operations in the region, was blocked in June by Interior Department due to environmental concerns. The two-lane, all-season gravel road would run through the Brooks Range foothills and the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, crossing 11 rivers and thousands of streams before it reached the site of a future mine.
The Biden administration’s decision protected 28 million hectares of federal land from mineral development. Proposals to revisit and expedite the project have since surfaced in documents associated with Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint for a second Trump term.
While Trump distanced himself from the document during his campaign, mining stakeholders such as South32 are hopeful that the road’s approval could be back on the table.
‘Game changer’ asset
Ambler Metals, formed in 2019 by South32 and Trilogy Metals have…
