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Climate|House Votes to Advance a Mining Road Through the Alaskan Wilderness
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/climate/ambler-access-project-road-alaska.html
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The proposed 211-mile industrial road over pristine land would allow a mining company to reach a copper deposit. Critics say it would destroy a fragile environment.
Sept. 3, 2025Updated 9:54 p.m. ET
The House voted late on Wednesday to advance a 211-mile industrial road that would cut through pristine Alaskan wilderness to reach a proposed copper and zinc mine, handing a victory to the company behind the contentious mining venture.
The215-210 vote was the latest twist in a long-running battle over the road, known as the Ambler Access Project, that has reverberated across Alaska and the nation’s capital. The first Trump administration issued a federal permit for the project in 2020, but the Biden administration suspended it last year, saying the road would threaten wildlife as well as Alaska Native tribes that rely on hunting and fishing.
Supporters of the road, including many Alaska politicians, have said it is essential to reach a copper deposit worth an estimated $7.5 billion. Copper is crucial to the production of cars, electronics and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines.
Representative Nick Begich III, Republican of Alaska, introduced the resolution to advance the project under the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to reverse recently adopted federal regulations with a simple majority vote.
The House passed the resolution overwhelmingly along party lines, with just one Republican — Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — joining Democrats in voting against the measure. Mr. Fitzpatrick was also one of two Republicans who voted against President Trump’s signature domestic policy package in July. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Senate is expected to pass the same resolution in the coming weeks. President Trump, who wants to significantly expand domestic mining, has indicated he will sign it into law.
