PURPOSE: The applicant, Alaska Industrial Development Authority, states the project purpose is to increase job opportunities and encourage the economic growth of the state by supporting mineral resource exploration and development in the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska.
LOCATION: The project site is located within begin Latitude 67.162º N., Longitude 157.052º W.; end Latitude 67.081º N., Longitude 150.345º W near mile post 161 of Dalton Highway about 211 miles to Ambler Mining District near Ambler, Alaska.
PROPOSED WORK: The permit application is for the phased construction of a controlled access, year-round, industrial road linking the Ambler Mining District to the Dalton Highway. The project would construct a new 211-mile-long gravel surfaced roadway along the southern flanks of the Brooks Range, extending west from the Dalton Highway near milepost 161 to the south bank of the Ambler River. The road, at full build-out would provide year-round surface transportation access to the Ambler Mining District to allow for expanded exploration, mine development, and mine operations at mineral prospects. Access to the road would be controlled and primarily limited to mining-related industrial uses, although some commercial access may be allowed. A fiber optic line, radio communication towers and associated infrastructure are planned to be installed within the project footprint to provide communications during construction and operation of road. Impacts to waters of the United States (U.S.) from fiber optic line work are expected to be minimal.
All work would be performed in accordance with the enclosed plan (sheets 1-20), dated September 10, 2019.
All comments should reach this office no later than the expiration date of this Public Notice to become part of the record and be considered in the decision. Please contact John Sargent at (907) 458-1603
or by email at John.C.Sargent@usace.army.mil if further information is desired concerning this notice.
POA-2013-396, Kobuk Alatna and Koyukuk Rivers
Revised POA-2013-00396_Public Notice