Alaska development agency applies for key West Susitna Access permit
The federal permit is required under the Clean Water Protection Act.
By Yereth Rosen
Alaska Beacon
What you need to know:
- The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority has applied for a key federal permit to build a 78.5-mile road segment through wetlands as part of the 100-mile West Susitna Access Project. A second section, which would cross the Susitna River, is slated for development by the Alaska Department of Transportation.
- The road would be funded through tolls paid by mining companies extracting resources in the area and would be open to nonindustrial users. No mining companies have committed to using or paying for the road.
- State officials and supporters view the project as a vital opportunity for economic development and improved access to recreational activities such as hunting and fishing. The project faces strong opposition from critics who cite concerns about ecological damage to rivers, wetlands and wildlife habitats. Opponents argue it would cause irreversible harm and result in financial waste.
The potential to develop the backcountry west of the Susitna River has taken a step forward, as the state’s economic development agency applied for a key federal permit needed to build 78.5 miles of road into the area, which holds mining potential.
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority submitted an application for the West Susitna Access Project to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It is applying for a permit required by the Clean Water Act for construction in wetlands. The application was submitted on July 24, said Robyn Reyes, an AIDEA spokesperson.
In all, the proposed road would be about 100 miles long. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is pursuing the initial segment, which would run about 22 miles, while AIDEA is pursuing the remainder.
AIDEA is a state-owned development corporation.
State and Matanuska Susitna Borough officials describe the West Susitna Access Project as important to economic development. The road would lead to state lands that hold mining claims and the potential for extraction of gold, coal and other resources.
“This project presents a fantastic opportunity for Alaska to expand and generate revenue. I am dedicated to this initiative and to unlocking resources that will benefit all Alaskans,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a statement released by AIDEA.
Supporters also tout the road as a way for residents to gain access to hunting, fishing and recreational sites. The project is supported by the Alaska Outdoor Council, an organization of sport hunters, fishers, trappers and other outdoor users.
The project is highly controversial, however. Residents in the region are divided on the project, and opponents argue that it would degrade habitat that currently supports fish and wildlife.
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“Building a 100+ mile industrial road would cause irreversible harm to rivers, wetlands, and other critical fish and wildlife habitat across the Susitna watershed and waste millions of dollars the state cannot afford. That would be just the beginning of the devastation and disruption,” says the website of Defend the West Su, one of the groups opposing the project.
American Rivers, a national conservation organization, earlier this year cited the West Susitna Access Project when it included the Susitna in its annual list of the 10 most threatened U.S. rivers.
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