The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News - March 22, 2024
The world-class Bornite copper-cobalt deposit lies at the western end of the proposed Ambler Road.
Click on image for larger map of the proposed 211-mile Ambler Access Project.
Trilogy Metals Inc. March 21 announced that the Ruby Tribal Council has passed a resolution in support of the Ambler Access Project – a proposed 211-mile, industrial-use-only road that would connect the mineral-rich Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska to the Dalton Highway and global markets.
Ruby is an Alaska Native community that lies about 150 miles south of the Ambler Mining District, where Ambler Metals LLC – a 50-50 joint venture between Trilogy and South32 Ltd. – plans to develop mines that would produce copper, zinc, gold, silver, and cobalt.
Mines that will require a means of transporting metal-rich concentrates to refiners for processing.
Recognizing the important role responsible resource development plays for residents living in Northwest Alaska, the Ruby Tribal Council unanimously passed Resolution 2024-05, declaring its support for the Ambler Access Project, more widely known as the Ambler Road.
"The Ruby Tribal Council is dedicated to ensuring jobs and opportunities for our children and grandchildren," said Ruby Tribal Council First Chief Patrick McCarty. "The resolution stands as a testament to our village's dedication to responsible resource development."
About a year ago, the Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs, which represent a combined 19 Alaska Native communities across 135,500 square miles of Alaska's northernmost reaches, passed a similar joint resolution in support of the Ambler Road.
"Resource development, when carried out in a way that respects our subsistence lifestyle, culture, and the wellbeing of the land has the potential to create progressive economic and employment outcomes for the people of our communities," Northwest Arctic Borough Mayor Dickie Moto said at the time.
The support from Alaska Native villages and boroughs covering a broad swath of northern Alaska comes at a time when the federal government is reevaluating permits for the Ambler Road.
Click on image for larger map of the proposed 211-mile Ambler Access Project.
In 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service, both of which fall under the Interior Department, approved the federal authorizations needed to build the Ambler Access Project.
In 2022, however, BLM suspended its Ambler Road authorizations for further review.
The federal land manager cited a lack of adequate consultation with Alaska tribes and evaluation of potential impacts the road might have on subsistence uses as reasons to remand the previously issued authorizations.
A draft supplemental environmental impact statement that incorporates the cited missing data was released in October, and the final EIS and record of decision on the reevaluated Ambler Access Project is slated for later this year.
The road permitting delay has set back the envisioned timeline for the development of mines in the Ambler District.
Viewing responsible resource development as a vital step toward a flourishing and prosperous future, the Ruby Tribal Council is actively participating in consultations to ensure the Ambler Road project aligns with its visions.
"We want to have a say over our future and supporting the Ambler Road is one way we can plan for future generations," said Chief McCarty.
Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.
Reader Comments(1)
Eidolon writes:
Hooray for Ruby!
03/22/2024, 6:47 am