The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed House Joint Resolution 106, legislation introduced by Congressman Nick Begich to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan.
The vote makes way for a 211-mile industrial-use road that would allow the development of the Ambler Mining District, a state mining district that is unreachable without access across federal land. The access to the mining district was guaranteed by law.
The first Trump administration issued a federal permit for the project in 2020, but the Biden Administration axed the permit.
The Central Yukon RMP, finalized by the Biden administration in 2024, governs 56 million acres in north and central Alaska, stretching from the Brooks Range to the Yukon River. The plan set new restrictions on development by designating more than 3.6 million acres as “Areas of Critical Environmental Concern,” limiting leasing opportunities, and continuing longstanding land withdrawals.
The Biden plan put more than 13 million acres effectively off-limits, curtailing the state’s ability to pursue oil, gas, and mineral projects, harming Alaska’s economy and prevent the state from contributing to U.S. energy and mineral independence at a time when demand for critical minerals is rising globally.
“The 2024 Central Yukon plan locks up more than 13 million acres of public land and blocks projects vital to our nation’s energy security and economic future,” said Congressman Begich. “With this resolution, we are restoring balance to federal land policy and ensuring that Alaska can responsibly contribute to America’s energy and mineral independence. Alaskans know how to balance stewardship and development, and I am proud to have championed this legislation in the House that restores responsible management of our state’s resources.”
Begich’s resolution seeks to repeal the Central Yukon plan outright in order to:
- Reinforce US energy security by opening new areas for oil and gas development.
- Unlock access to critical minerals used in advanced technologies and defense applications.
- Support major projects such as the Alaska LNG pipeline, which is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs and deliver 3.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The Congressional Review Act requires that before a rule can take effect, an agency must submit the rule to both the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Comptroller General. CRA adopts the definition of “rule” under the Administrative Procedure Act but excludes certain categories of rules from coverage. The Central Yukon RMP meets the APA definition of a “rule,” and is subject to CRA’s submission requirements.
The House vote, 215-210, now places the issue squarely before the U.S. Senate, where lawmakers will now decide whether to reject the Central Yukon plan. The outcome could set an important precedent for how federal land in Alaska is managed in the years ahead, balancing national conservation priorities against the state’s push for resource development.
How are the fed’s actions not a violation of the Alaska Statehood Compact?
Finally, a Begich I like!
Go Nick!!! This another great step forward. Thank you !!!
HR 106 was introduced by Andy Boggs from Arizona. Where did you get Begich? He may have voted for it but so did many other.
Andy Boggs from Arizona wrote and introduced it.
Give credot where credit is due…
This is not HR 106. It’s HJR 106. Different bill.
Boggs/Begich.
Hmmmmmmm……….where have I heard that combination before?
I’m pretty sure that Princess will beg her Democrat masters and oppose this, because reversing the Alaska Lockdown is not on Her Royal Agenda
The lobbyist for the Ambler mine is a former murkowski staffer. So she may be on board with this
” beg” was ” obey” darn autocorrect
This is exactly why I will keep supporting NB3 for Congress. He gets things done the right way for Alaska. His Uncle Tom for governor…?
Forget about it. A Democrat loser. His nephew is such the better man.
I agree, Julia. I agree
Ma and Pa Begich must be rolling over in their graves.
Well Princess 👸: What say you?
The most important thing in Congress this week was retired Lt Col Anthony Aguilar getting arrested for speaking out against the US backed genocide in Gaza…Tony is a former green beret who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star after years of combat deployments. Look up his talks this week on youtube…
The most important thing is to provide the much-needed energy to Alaskans so we don’t have people freezing. You can worry about foreigners if you wish, but I’d prefer not seeing locals go without the basics.
Steve just because he is a war hero doesn’t mean he is right all the time. Biden got us into these wars not Trump. When you aid terrorists for years and years at some point that is going to bite you in the ass. Do you remember the PLO lead by a terrorist?? How many Palestinians are fighting Hamas ?? I’m curious.
No one with a brain cares about what you speak of. Go rant on the deep blue fake news sites. Cya, Bye, Ciao!
Great job, Nickster! For far too long the BLM’s modus operandi has been to lock it up, shut it down, prevent and stop development. When I worked there in the 1970s it was a different story. The mission was to facilitate and make sure any development was done right. This has to change, especially in places like Alaska where our economy is based on resource development. The Trans Alaska Pipeline would never have been permitted in today’s BLM environment.
“……..The vote makes way for a 211-mile industrial-use road that would allow the development of the Ambler Mining District………”
Key words: ‘industrial-use’. That seems to be the trend. Use for me, not for thee……..but we want you to invest political emotion into it so we can make money.
Meh………….
It will take awhile but they must keep chipping away at erasing “President Autopens” signature that took America to its lowest point in as many ways his handlers could think of.
Any bets the “Princess Lisa” will vote against this as it represents another Trump win. There is no apparent depth of the woman’s wrath towards President Trump that will not be opposed. No surprise were this to be the case.
Cheers.
Let’s get that road built. Good going Nick.
Spoke with a native Man from Noorvik yesterday- he’s all in on the benefits a road will provide to this and future generations in the region
If Cominco hadnt developed Red Dog all the people that have worked there would be a lot worse off
Let’s give these villages and families the same opportunity we all want for our families
It can be done right here in Alaska
An important point got missed in this article: The CYRMP regulated State land, Native land, and Private land as well as federal holdings – the entire State north of the Yukon River, border to oceans. This document was mis-named to disguise the breadth of its restrictions. It “recommended” for wilderness designation huge areas rich with strategic minerals based on assumptions, not data, to support leftist political ideals – it was the ecoterrorist tool designed to permanently lock up Alaska as a giant park.
Thank you Congressman Begich for killing this abomination.
NB3 hit the mail on the head. “The DC cubicle army” of Preservations have been blocking regulated resources development in Alaska since the 70’s.
It’s time they find another fundraising source for their NGO executive staff.
How about incinerating plastic to create electricity? That theme could fill their treasure chests.