West Susitna Access

ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY

INVESTING IN ALASKANS

The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is a public corporation of the State of Alaska, created in 1967 by the Alaska Legislature “in the interests of promoting the health, security, and general welfare of all the people of the state, and a public purpose, to increase job opportunities and otherwise to encourage the economic growth of the state, including the development of its natural resources, through the establishment and expansion of manufacturing, industrial, energy, export, small business, and business enterprises…”

MINING: GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, STRATEGIC METALS

AGRICULTURAL: 65,000 ACRES

FOREST/TIMBER: 701,000 ACRES

PROJECT BENEFITS

The anticipated benefits of this project west of the Susitna River include the delivery of many new opportunities for Alaskans. The state’s economy will enjoy growth and jobs from the extraction of minerals, oil and gas development, agricultural production, harvest of timber resources, harnessing of alternative energy, and recreation access

* The stars represent hard-rock and gold placer mining activities.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

• In 2019 AIDEA and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provided a partnership framework for a phased feasibility analysis of the West Susitna Access.
• Today AIDEA and MSB, along with Alaska Operations LLC, are the initial public and private partners in Phase 2 of the West Susitna Access Project. Other private entities may participate in future development efforts.
• The project will touch on land use planning. Alaska’s Legislature directed land use plans are required for the utilization of state-owned land. Alaska Statute 38.04.065: (a) Except as provided in (d) and (h) of this section, the commissioner shall, with local governmental and public involvement under AS 38.05.945, adopt, maintain, and, when appropriate, revise regional land use plans that provide for the use and management of state-owned land.
• The process under which this project will go forward assures meaningful participation in the planning for access and road development. Local governments, state and federal agencies, area land owners and the public will be involved at each step along the way as any regional land use Plan is adopted.

WEST SUSITNA ACCESS PROJECT: PHASE 2

• The West Susitna Access Project is being proposed to advance to Phase 2 of a multi-phase project to examine the feasibility of an all-season access road to the Yentna Mining District
• The road corridor will enable access to the MSB and state-owned natural resources for multiple user groups.
• Phase 1, led by HDR Alaska, was completed in the fall of 2019 and narrowed the project footprint, and established a preferred route leading to the Yetna Mining District. Digital data was acquired and a high level field reconnaissance was conducted. Phase 1 results are available at aidea.org under 2020 AIDEA Board Meetings.
• Phase 2 of the project builds on the 2014 West Susitna Roads to Resources study led by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

NEXT STEPS
AIDEA in conjunction with MSB and private industry partners will begin phase 2 in July 2020. Phase 2, which would further develop the engineering, has two objectives:

1. Preliminary engineering adequate to determine an approximate project cost.
2. Collection of wetland field data to fully evaluate the route planning and impacts . Phase 2 will accomplish these goals under a fixed- price contract with a private engineering consultant. 

SCHEDULE

• July 2020: Phase 2 Begins
• December 2020: Phase 2 Concludes 

WEST SUSITNA ACCESS DOCUMENTS

          AIDEA West Susitna Access Study by HDR  

West Susitna Access Phase II - MOU 

West Susitna Access Phase I - MOU 

West Susitna lidar Survey