On October 6, 2025, the President approved an appeal by Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) directing Federal agencies, including the BLM, to promptly issue permits to establishhe Ambler Road.
On October 21, 2025, the BLM reissued AIDEA the BLM Right-of-Way Grant, No. F-97112, originally issued January 5, 2021.
Please direct media requests and inquiries about activities to AIDEA at (907) 519-7782 and [email protected].
In November 2015, AIDEA submitted a consolidated application for a 250-foot-wide right-of way (ROW) to five federal agencies: BLM, National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After agency consultations, AIDEA filed a revised consolidated application with supplemental information in June 2016.
From 2017-2020, BLM prepared an Environmental Impact Statement for the Ambler Road that considered AIDEA’s proposal along with two alternative routes and a no-action alternative.
In July 2020, the BLM and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a Joint Record of Decision that approved AIDEA’s application. Following this decision, BLM issued AIDEA a 50-year right-of-way grant to construct and operate the Ambler Road.
In August and October 2020, legal challenges were brought against the Project by multiple parties.
In February 2022, the Department of the Interior suspended the BLM ROW and requested a voluntary remand from the U.S. District Court for Alaska. In May 2022, the court granted the remand request, returning the matter to BLM to correct the identified deficiencies.
From 2022-2024, the BLM prepared a Supplemental EIS to address the deficiencies identified in the remand and to ensure compliance with applicable laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), NHPA, and ANILCA.
In June 2024, BLM issued a new Record of Decision, in which it decided to select the No Action Alternative and terminate the right-of-way grant previously issued for the road.
In June 2025, AIDEA filed a direct appeal to the President of the United States under Section 1106 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
On October 6, 2025, the President approved the appeal, directing the BLM to promptly issue permits and any other authorizations necessary for the Ambler Road following applicable laws and the 2020 Joint Record of Decision. In response, on October 21, 2025, the BLM reissued AIDEA the 50-year right-of-way grant originally issued to construct and operate the Ambler Road.
