Alaska approves New Amalga mine access road after major opposition

Alaska's state government has greenlit the construction of a new mining access road, despite widespread public opposition. Grand Portage Resources Ltd., a Canadian mining company, initiated the request for the road. A staggering 90% of the 196 comments collected earlier this year were against the project. Juneau resident Brooks Horan expressed his concerns, stating, "Alaska’s public lands and transportation systems exist to serve Alaskans — not to subsidize private industrial expansion at public expense."

The proposed easement includes a 15-foot-wide gravel road and two one-acre helicopter pads on state land, situated off the Glacier Highway. The road is approximately 1.3 miles long, extending between the Herbert Glacier and Eagle Glacier trail, and does not interfere with any existing recreation trails. The state acknowledges that while the road and staging areas will disrupt recreation, it does not believe the wild and scenic nature of the area will be irreparably harmed.

The state's public notice, issued last Tuesday, acknowledged that although public access would not be restricted, it would be significantly impacted by safety hazards and noise. Local conservation groups gathered community members who opposed the mining project, with attendees like Riley Moser emphasizing the severe disruption to recreation and the financial benefit going to a foreign corporation.