This past June, Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan added an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Department of the Interior to approve permits for the proposed Ambler Road. This amendment would force the DOI to select Alternative A or B for the route to reach the Ambler mining district, located in the heart of the Brooks Range.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans spoke out against the road during the public comment period last year and the Final Environmental Impact Statement clearly outlined that the road’s development would have massive negative impacts on the region’s lands, waters, and wildlife. Sen. Sullivan is ignoring the voices of local residents who know that the road would irreversibly harm their traditional way of life, and he is blatantly disregarding the sound science gathered by the DOI.
Unlike the Senator’s claims, this project does not secure America’s supply of critical minerals, nor does it improve our national defense. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, copper is not a critical mineral, and the data on the presence of other minerals is highly speculative. Furthermore, any minerals sourced from the region would require shipment overseas for processing; they would not–and currently cannot–be processed in the United States.
The Defend Brooks Range coalition and Indigenous advocates from the region are actively organizing and lobbying against this amendment. As the bill moves through Congress and is the subject of debate, we continue to have opportunities to reach out to legislators in an effort to remove this rider from the NDAA.
Northern Center members can help by reaching out to key members of Congress who have influence over the NDAA process and can advocate on behalf of Brooks Range communities to remove the rider. In doing so, they will hold Sen. Sullivan accountable to his constituents who clearly spoke out against the road during public comment periods, as well as force him to acknowledge the science collected throughout the environmental review process. He must uphold the DOI’s decision to revoke the permits for the proposed Ambler Road, and truly represent Alaskans, Americans, and the greater public interest–NOT foreign mining companies.
Listed below is the contact information for priority legislators who we hope will advocate on our behalf. We encourage you to take a few minutes out of your day to call and leave a message to two or three of the legislators. We have also provided helpful scripts for your phone calls or messages. While phone calls are the most effective way to reach members of Congress, we also encourage folks to send an email. If you have any questions, please email katie@northern.org.
Phone call script:
My name is ____. I’m calling from Alaska to voice my opposition to the Ambler Road rider that Senator Dan Sullivan put into the National Defense Authorization Act. This rider ignores public opposition to the project, especially from within the region, disregards the science that shows the proposed road would irreversibly and negatively impact the lands, waters, and communities of the Brooks Range, and overrides the Department of the Interior’s sound decision to stop the project. The Ambler Road project would not meaningfully increase domestic supply of critical minerals or improve our national defense as all minerals extracted would have to be processed overseas. I ask that Senator/Representative _____ vote to remove this rider from the NDAA. Thank you.
Email script:
My name is ____ and I am a resident of Alaska. I’m emailing to voice my opposition to the Ambler Road rider that Senator Dan Sullivan put into the National Defense Authorization Act.
This rider ignores public opposition to the project, especially from within the region, disregards the science that shows the proposed road would irreversibly and negatively impact the lands, waters, and communities of the Brooks Range, and overrides the Department of the Interior’s sound decision to stop the project. Using the NDAA rider as a way to force through the Ambler Road project is disingenuous as it would not meaningfully increase domestic supply of critical minerals or improve our national defense as all minerals extracted would have to be processed overseas.
I ask that Senator/Representative _____ look to the leadership of local Indigenous advocates, respect the science and decision from the Department of the Interior, and stand up for the best interest of our lands, waters, and communities by voting to remove this rider from the NDAA. Thank you.
Legislators:
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (202) 225-5936
Rep. Katherine Clark (202) 225-2836
Rep. Mary Peltola (202) 225-5765
Rep. Raul Grijalva (202) 225-2435
Rep. Adam Smith (202) 225-8901
Rep. Bruce Westerman (202) 225-3772
Rep. Mike Rogers (202) 225-3261
Rep. Ruben Gallego (202) 225-4065
Sen. Chuck Schumer (202) 224-6542
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665
Sen. Jack Reed (202) 224-4642
Sen. Roger Wicker (202) 224-6253
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (202) 224-2823
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (202) 224-2854
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (202) 224-4451
Sen. Martin Heinrich (202) 224-5521
Sen. Mark Kelly (202) 224-2235
Sen. Joe Manchin (202) 224-3954
Sen. John Barasso (202) 224-6441
Featured Photo: Northern Center’s Katie McClellan holds a sign from Defend the Brooks Range outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in May 2023. (Photo by Katie McClellan)
