Protect the Kobuk, a group whose Facebook account’s administrator’s name is “China,” gave Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a “No Road” t-shirt this week, while the secretary was traveling in the Interior this week.
The shirt’s message? No road from the Dalton Highway to the state’s Ambler Mining District.
China Kantner went on Facebook and wrote, “Our voices were heard this evening. Ruth Iten and I gave Secretary Buttigieg his very own No Road t-shirt and told him that many folks in our region say #NoAmblerRoad.”
What is this all about? The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has proposed to construct a 211-mile private industrial access road to the state mining district, but it would have to cross federal land.
The Biden Administration has been on record saying that minerals for the new Biden green economy should come from national sources, but currently, most of the needed minerals for electronics and national security come from China, which is, according to most Americans, an enemy of the U.S.
Meanwhile, Alaska has not seen a new road built in the state since the 8-mile gravel road from Kivalina to its new school site.
The issue of the top member of the Biden Administration in charge of roads accepting a “no-road” t shirt raised the eyebrows of those watching his every move in Alaska. Does this mean Buttigieg is opposed to the Ambler Road, which would be exclusively used by the mining area and not open to the general public?
The supplemental environmental impact statement will come out in a month, givng the public a chance to weigh in on the project.
The history of the Ambler Mining District goes back generations.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter enacted the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, sometimes called, “The Great Compromise.” This law aimed to balance Alaska’s natural resource economy with environmental preservation and the protection of Alaskan lifestyles. It created 10 new federal parks, preserves, and monuments in Alaska and guaranteed specific rights, including access to the Ambler Mining District for resource development.
By 2009, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities started assessing potential road and railway routes to the Ambler Mining District, identifying a possible corridor through the Gates of the Arctic National Preserve. In 2013, the project’s responsibility shifted to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state-owned corporation created to bolster Alaska’s economic prosperity.
AIDEA aimed to establish a public-private collaboration to fund, build, and manage the controlled access road, mirroring their previous successful project, the DeLong Mountain Transportation System. This involved partnering with the private sector for road development, where the construction expenses were recouped via tolls.
In March 2020, the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ambler Road. A few months later in July, the BLM and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the Joint Record of Decision under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Throughout 2021, the Ambler Access Project made progress including establishing rights-of-way understandings between AIDEA, the National Park Service, and BLM as well as an AIDEA-Doyon land access agreement and an AIDEA-NANA land access permit.
The agreement and permit with Doyon and NANA, respectively, are effective until Dec. 31, 2024. These are not yet rights-of-way actual agreements. Project resources were added to advance the project through Final Feasibility and Permitting, including a dedicated program manager, external communications manager, and a team of contractors to complete nine critical scopes of work.
In 2021 and 2022, the Northwest Arctic Borough, Native Village of Shungnak, Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, the Alaska Chamber, Alaska Miners Association, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, Council of Alaska Producers, and the Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc., among others, expressed their support for the AAP through published letters and resolutions.
China Kantner. Just fyi. Is China Kantner the same China as Paul Kantner & Grace Slick’s (of Jefferson Airplane fame) daughter named China?
Dave, I don’t think so. I know China, she worked for an Air Taxi/ Outfitter in Kotzebue a couple years back. If I remember correctly, China was raised in Northwest Alaska and resides there still.
“……she worked for an Air Taxi/ Outfitter in Kotzebue a couple years back…….”
So flying people around in the region protects it from people who wish to drive there because people like her charge thousands for access? The price of a t-shirt is enough to buy the Secretary of Transportation?
Some of us have been around (longer than she’s been alive) to know the game.
Reggie, I can assure you that China was not doing her job at the Air Taxi for the prime cut, it was summer work and I might add that she was most helpful. While I disagree with her position on the road I do respect China’s right to have her opinions and to voice those opinions.
The real travesty here is that we have a complete nincompoop as Sec. of Transportation. Mayor Pete couldn’t find his exhaust portal with a flashlight. Pot Hole Pete isn’t the only example of this idiocy. Apparently all of our Nation’s Departments are being managed by unqualified and unaccomplished people who also increasingly we learn are corrupt and perhaps even on the Chi-Com payroll. Therein lies the root of the problem.
“……China was not doing her job at the Air Taxi for the prime cut, it was summer work and I might add that she was most helpful.……”
She might not be so helpful in her political activities. Or, if you folks prefer the remote Alaskan lifestyle, she might be the perfect summer……and political…….help. I agree that Mayor Pete exemplifies our political problems today……and I’ll suggest that anybody slipping slogan-adorned t-shirts on him might represent part of the problem……..
“Pot Hole Pete” conjures images that no one should want to entertain.
More proof that all liberals are Chinese spies.
Hmmm…and meanwhile the Trump campaign is actually selling Make America Great Again hats and swag–that are MADE IN CHINA! What’s with the clickbait?
Just ran over there to check.
Every item I looked at is Made in USA.
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What site are you looking at? Or are you looking at Trump 2024 stuff on Amazon or some other seller? Because the official Trump site has nothing made in China on it.
Absolutely right all made in America. Jaded can’t read or is a lying sack. Probably the later.
Typical leftist. Just like the toddler they actually are, they actually think that if they say something, everyone will believe it without question.
Why are they all always so unattractive?
Critical thought and contemplation on this subject …. “No Road to Ambler” only leads to one to realize a significant deficit of positive benefits for Alaskans, Alaska, and the US:
… “No Mining District at Ambler”
… “No Infrastructure Development at Ambler”
… “No Employment Opportunities”
… “No Union Dues Collected”
… “No General Commerce Opportunities”
… “No Royalty Payments”
… “No Intrinsic Supply of Intrinsic Raw Materials & Critical Minerals”
… “No Contribution to the US Energy – Mineral Security for the US
It’s critically important for all us to recognize importance of resource development projects in AK907, such as The Ambler Mining District, and the Clear & Present Danger these anti-development hacks pose to the viability of Alaskas Economic Prosperity.
“………It’s critically important for all us to recognize importance of resource development projects in AK907…….”
I despise environmentalists as much or more than the next guy, but I fail to see how resource extraction helps me. Will it pay state government? You bet it will! Me? Not so much. I despise state level politicians and administrators as much as environmentalists.
Create jobs for more people to move here? You bet it will! Does that help me? Not at all. I miss the Alaska of 50 years ago. I’d just as soon see half of the people here full time, and all of the summertime “Alaskans” disappear.
Well Reggie, maybe these development projects won’t enrich you, offer you a job – career, and/or benefit you handsomely … But(!!!), these types of projects ‘do’ benefit Alaskans and Alaska in a broad sense.
When we adjust our mindset and thinking, trying not to think selfishly about how these projects will benefit only our personal selves, but rather rather how these projects will benefit all Alaskans and Alaska, we will serve in a higher capacity.
Put another way, think about the potential opportunities these projects offer to others rather than just yourself.
Sorry, Rob. I just don’t care about these pie-in-the-sky mega projects anymore. From the Knik Arm bridge to Pebble to the Watana Dam to……..whatever……..just nauseates me now. The banter back and forth is just noise of the worse kind. If the zanny environmentalists get their way, Alaska remains a remote American outpost, and all we have to listen to are their ridiculous Chicken Little fears. If the American/Chinese/Canadian/Australian resource corporations get their way, we still have to listen to the Chicken Little class, but we also get rich yuppies taking control, and a flood of immigrant workers shooting up all the moose and caribou. Yeah, that’s selfish, but it remains my wisest position. Eventually something like another world war will pop up, and government will go hog wild with all kinds of transportation infrastructure construction and resource extraction……..because they’ll have to. I’ll just wait for the inevitable. Heck, it might even be beginning right now……..
Reggie your a dip stick. My kids care about these projects. There are trillions of dollars in metals in the western brooks range. Apple needs the metals, Tesla needs the metals, Microsoft needs the metals ford needs them and I do to. Further more you left wing murdering war mongers are about to get us in a world war and then the fighting machine will need the metals and you will need a tinfoil suit to protect your stupid ass from the radiation that will drift your way. Cheers you moron.
I know it’s not legal, but more and more I’m leaning towards start building it anyway.
Make the imperial federal government use force to stop it.
Hickel style……both with the Haul Road and the Copper River Hwy, which has been a state right-of-way since 1939.
It won’t work. They’ll send the shock troops, then posture as saviors of the environment.
Want to destroy them? Assist the destruction of urban America. This is their power. Their facade.
But if you do, expect MILLIONS of refugees. Hundreds of millions of them, actually.
On 2nd thought probably too young
Breast-feeder Pete doesn’t know what is made where, who it’s made for, or why it’s even made.
“Breast-feeder…….”
That baby is going to starve.
No-pistol Pete is a multi-tasker, Reggie. He and his husband share duties, and that includes feeding the babies whether endowed or not.
All I can hope for is that these cretins are among the first to experience what the death of all the big industries in Alaska does to the economy. Especially in Anchorage and in Bush Alaska. The state won’t be able to pay the employees it has now, there won’t be any money to subsidize everything in Bush Alaska, anyone who can will leave the state (including most of the worker bees) and the state will start levying income, sales, and property taxes on an already desperate and destitute population of workers. People who voted for Murky and the west-Alaskan socialist will finally get what they always advocated for.
Go easy on poor Sec. Pete. He was put in that position because of who he sleeps with, not because he has any understanding of the issues, or can strategize in any way.
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“China Kantner went on Facebook and wrote, “Our voices were heard this evening. …”
No, it wasn’t. Cabinet level secretaries hear a thousand messages just like that every day. Secretary Pete heard some mumbling, took the shirt because he was being polite, and posed with people who asked for a photo, again, being polite. You might as well have been talking to a brick wall.
“Alaska has not seen a new road built in the state since the 8-mile gravel road from Kivalina to its new school site.”
Wrong.
The Cooper Landing Bypass is currently being built.
Marky, it’s simple grammar: “built” is past tense, meaning it has already happened, “being built” means it’s happening now. Another example? I learned to read vs. I am learning to read. See how that works?
Too good.
Marky Mark, the Kivalina road isn’t a road, it’s an extended drive way to a School built eight miles from the village, to the middle of nowhere. (see poster child for Global Warming or Climate Change or whatever their calling it this week).
Alaska hasn’t built a “ROAD” since 1976, that being the Skagway to Carcross highway. Prior to the Skagway Highway it was the Dalton Highway or “Haul Road” from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay. Road Corridors should provide infrastructure which benefits resource development which builds our economy here in Alaska. Sadly, after wasting Billions of $ on Bravo Sierra, we in Alaska haven’t built squat to develop our economy. All of the major Transportation corridors in this State were built prior to Oil $… The Parks High-Way, The Richardson, The Glenn, The Alcan… The Cooper Landing Project you mention is a convenience to an existing corridor.
BTW, I labored on both of the last two roads built in this State, I was young then and now I am old, what a waste that we didn’t build more roads and or rail roads when we had the $.
the state spent 184 million building a rail spur to pork Mackenzie. Now the Mat Su Borough wants to make it a road. I guess the state has built a road since 1976.
“……..The Cooper Landing Bypass is currently being built……..”
There’s a road project about 40 or 50 years overdue. But at least everybody will be able to use it when finished……..I hope. Take, for example, the new road to the Yukon River from Manley. Like the Dalton Hwy, it was designed and built to discourage (or even legally prohibit) non-locals from using it. Don’t ya’ love that kind of infrastructure advancement? Build a new transportation corridor in a wildly acknowledged socialist state, then keep people from utilizing it.
Makes sense. Secretary Granholm and her minions are busily turning the Department of Energy into the newly renamed Department of (No) Energy. Appears Secretary Pete is doing the same thing with Transportation, adopting anti-road positions, turning his department into the Department of (No) Transportation. He’s done such a bang up job that people actually know who the Transportation Secretary is. Cheers –
CHINA is just the first name of Ms Kanye’s , apparently!!
I believe that the only true transport method for mining is a railroad, not a half measure road. If they built a railroad to Red Dog and a spur to Ambler from Fairbanks, Alaska would be transformed.
Hmmmm, I like it! And a road parallel to the tracks?
I’ve favored an expansion of the railroad for years. Nome, Barrow (can’t spell the new name), Canada.
Build a major hub in Fairbanks.
Yes, expensive up front, the the long term benefits more than make up for it.
If an actual road can run alongside it, so much better.
They are not going to do anything up here.
Truer words have rarely been spoken. The only increased transportation infrastructure they want are for locals only. And as long as the feds pay for it, that’s fine by me.
Let’s use Frank rast’s famous air ships to move the ore…..then we don’t even need the damn road.
And without any doubt, Frank will be able to supply the copious hot air required for those air ships’ inflation and buoyancy.
They can name the company Rast-afarian Air.
Motto: “Where are heads are always in the clouds!”
“The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has proposed to construct a 211-mile —private— industrial access road to the state mining district…”
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In other words, while elected lawmakers figure out how to stiff taxpayers with income and sales taxes, unelected AIDEA officials are figuring out how to stiff the same taxpayers for God-knows-how-much to build and maintain a 211-mile —private— road?
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What’s behind the rush to build and maintain a $1.4B(illion) private road for a Canadian company and a Native Corporation, when Alaska’s government can’t find enough money to build and maintain —public— roads for Alaskans?
(npca.org/resources/3384-report-alaska-s-economic-claims-for-ambler-mining-road-don-t-pan-out)
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That’s a penny-stock Canadian company, vulnerable to hostile takeover by anyone. It makes less than $1M USD in revenue. Its earnings declined by 10.8% per year over past 5 years. It’s deemed unprofitable, not forecast to become profitable over the next 3 years.
(simplywall.st/stocks/ca/materials/tsx-tmq/trilogy-metals-shares?blueprint=2005005&utm_medium=finance_user&utm_campaign=integrated-pitch&utm_source=yahoo#executive-summary)
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Something seems wrong with this picture.
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Absent factual reassurances from AIDEA officials, or from anyone in state government, maybe China Kantner has a point.
“…….In other words, while elected lawmakers figure out how to stiff taxpayers with income and sales taxes, unelected AIDEA officials are figuring out how to stiff the same taxpayers for God-knows-how-much to build and maintain a 211-mile —private— road?…….”
Precisely. They have a long tradition of doing exactly that. The Dalton Hwy. The Pogo mine road. They want a percentage of the money flowing out, but they don’t want you or I accessing new areas of their precious wilderness.
Build the road. This is an American security issue. The copper wealth in the western south of the brooks range is incredible. Amongst other metals.
These Anti road idiots would rather have you buy copper mined in Africa using 8 year old slave labor and that’s a fact.
The all about me screw you gang.I would say a high percentage of the natives in the region want & need that road.
Let’s build it. Now. There isn’t any human population between bettles and shungnak 125 nautical miles.
The natives in shungnak and ambler need to deal with their local anti road morons. Those villages will be wealthy beyond belief if we can get the transportation infrastructure in place. This is a win win.
What famous writer lives in Kotz? Seth Kantner. Big time greeny! China is his wife. I’m guessing Ruth Iten is the wife of former Iditarod musher, Ed Iten.
Seth Kantner was born in Ambler, I believe. I don’t always agree with his politics but he is a talented writer and he has been in Alaska long enough to know what he is talking about. Doesn’t make him right but he’s not an idiot.
“……I don’t always agree with his politics but he is a talented writer…..”
Just in case you weren’t aware, that can be a very dangerous combination.
Dave, I don’t think so. I know China, she worked for an Air Taxi/ Outfitter in Kotzebue a couple years back. If I remember correctly, China was raised in Northwest Alaska and resides there still.
There is no shortage of copper in more accessible areas.
Then why is copper at such a worldwide shortage and high price?
Name them, “frank”.
Pete’s head is too big for his body. Sadly, it’s not a brain that’s filling that huge void.
They all look like they were made for each other.
A transportation secretary who is against transportation. Hmmmmm.
The Northwestern Arctic is some of the freest country left on the planet, where to survive and thrive you have to be skilled and clever. The insatiable hunger of our perpetual growth economic model won’t be satisfied until every river is polluted, every last bit of country has a road running through it, every precious drop of oil and speck of mineral has been mined, and all the caribou and salmon are dead.
ADN headline on this story:
“Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ends Alaska visit with emphasis on ferries”
LOL!
I think they may have misspelled the last word there.
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