West Susitna Access
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Current Status
May 2022 | AIDEA has submitted the CWA 404 permit application to the USACE for the West Susitna Access project, initiating the environmental review process through compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Field studies will begin this summer with further evaluation of cultural and historical sites, fish and wildlife habitat, engineering refinement, and alternative route analysis.
March 2022 | The final stages of predevelopment and permitting have started and a submission of a CWA 404 permit application to the USACE is expected in April 2022. There will continue to be ongoing opportunities for public engagement while field work continues this summer to conduct additional baseline environmental studies on cultural and historical resources, fish, wildlife, hydrology, and wetlands.
October 2021 | AIDEA will be receiving $8.5 million of appropriated funds from the 32nd State Legislature, under HB 69, to advance pre-development work on the West Susitna Access Road in October 2021. Next steps will be to competitively procure a third-party contractor to assist AIDEA with advancing pre-development work, file an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and begin an environmental impact analysis through the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). AIDEA anticipates to have a third party under contract in late December 2021 to assist in this process.
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.
- Mining: Gold, silver, copper, strategic metals
- Agricultural: 65,000 acres
- Forest/Timber: 701,000 acres
- Oil & Gas: Known proven reserves
- Recreation: 6 million acres