As we approach the release of the Supplemental Environmental Statement for the Ambler Road, many opponents will continue their misinformation campaign about the road and the project. AKHeadlamp will address these false claims and provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions.
False Claim #2 – Because “the State” is financing the road, it will become public.
· AIDEA is an independently governed public corporation of the State of Alaska. Identical to the Red Dog Mine road and infrastructure, called the DeLong Mountain Transportation System (DMTS), AIDEA is able to finance private roads.
· DeLong Mountain Transportation System (DMTS) (aidea.org)
· The road will remain private industrial-access only (see false claim #1)
False Claim #3 – There’s not enough money to repair the environment (i.e. reclamation) once the road is no longer needed.
· As stated in the Final EIS and record of decision (Ambler Road Final EIS Volume 1: Front Matter, Executive Summary, Chapters 1-3, Appendices A-F (blm.gov), AIDEA plans to pre-fund a reclamation reserve fund with revenue bond proceeds to provide for adequate reclamation when removal and reclamation occurs.
· AIDEA also intends to work with the local residents and landowners since the local residents may want to have the private, industrial access road maintained in perpetuity for essential goods and emergency services.
False Claim #4 – The road will kill off the caribou. It will kill off the fish. It will ruin subsistence.
· The project can coexist harmoniously with the environment as evidenced by Red Dog Mine and others.
· Industry can actually improve the environment as in the case of Red Dog Mine with cleaning up streams and spawning areas.
· The Subsistence Advisory Committee is working with the design team for responsible development such as large bridges to minimize effects on water flow and fish migration.
· The Subsistence Advisory Committee is comprised of leaders from the villages closest to the project and is providing meaningful input for responsible development and protection of subsistence.
· Jobs are needed for a subsistence lifestyle (boats, fuel, 4-wheelers).