The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority May 25 announced that it has submitted an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the 404 permit to build the proposed West Susitna Access Road, which would extend into resource-rich areas west of Cook Inlet in Southcentral Alaska.

"Today marks the beginning of the process to evaluate an access route to unlock opportunities in the fastest-growing region of the state," said AIDEA Executive Director Alan Weitzner. "We know the area is home to tremendous economic potential and offers recreational opportunities for residents of the Mat-Su Borough and all Alaskans."

Originally proposed under Alaska's Roads to Resources program, the West Susitna Access Road would run about 100 miles northwest from the Port MacKenzie area, opening up the west side of Cook Inlet to responsible natural resource development.

Access to this region west of Cook Inlet is expected to open many new opportunities for Alaskans, who will have easier access to 6 million acres of recreation area for hunting, fishing, boating, snowmachining, and other outdoor activities. In addition, the state's economy is expected to enjoy growth from the resource development opportunities offered by providing less expensive access to the gold, silver, copper, strategic metals, oil and gas, agricultural lands, timber resources, and alternative energy options in this region.

"Alaska is a resource state, and the constitution requires us to evaluate how to maximize the use of our resources to benefit all Alaskans. If built, the proposed West Susitna Road Project would mean much more than extracting the state-owned minerals essential for a modern economy, and the family-wage jobs it creates for Alaskans," said Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy. "It would also mean new recreational opportunities for Alaskans and thousands of additional acres of land available for agriculture to help our state be more food secure."

Wilderness lodge owners and operators in the West Susitna region, however, are against extending access west from Alaska's most populace region.

"Grave concern over the negative impacts of the proposed West Susitna Access Road has united the business community in the West Su," said Anders Gustafson, Executive Director of the Alaska Range Alliance, a group of lodge and private landowners in the West Susitna region.

As proposed, the project would provide access to the existing road and port system at Port MacKenzie for natural resource development as well as managed public access to recreation resources.

In 2019, AIDEA and the Mat-Su Borough agreed to provide a framework for a phased feasibility analysis of the West Susitna Access Project. The Alaska Legislature also sees potential value in the project and in 2021 appropriated $8.5 million to AIDEA for continued study of the project.

Earlier this year, the Mat-Su Borough completed an extensive stakeholder engagement process after assembly members asked for additional public outreach. That effort involved direct mail, virtual meetings, digital advertising, social media posts, and other communications tactics.

The federal permitting process triggered by AIDEA's application for the 404 permit, along with best interest finding process, which Alaska Department of Natural Resources required before granting a right-of-way over state lands, will provide the public with additional opportunities for input.

"The feasibility analysis AIDEA is about to undertake will provide the state and stakeholders with the information needed to make informed decisions about whether or not to proceed with the proposed road project," Dunleavy said.

Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority

The West Susitna region hosts several mineral exploration and placer gold mining prospects that could benefit from the road.

More information on the West Susitna Access Project can be found at https://www.aidea.org/Programs/Project-Development/West-Susitna-Access.

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Shane Lasley, Publisher

Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.

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