<div class="" data-article-body="true">AMBLER, Alaska (AP) — In Northwest Alaska, a proposed mining road has become a flashpoint in a region already stressed by climate change. The 211-mile (340-kilometer) Ambler Access Road <a href="http://www.apnews.com/576396b002d65700b12a063b10569e90" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:would cut through Gates of the Arctic National Park;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">would cut through Gates of the Arctic National Park</a> and cross 11 major rivers and thousands of streams relied on for salmon and caribou. The Trump administration <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alaska-mining-ambler-road-trump-copper-7be16b365b115412d953336f25e9e910" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:approved the project this fall;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">approved the project this fall</a>, setting off concerns over how the Inupiaq subsistence way of life can survive amid rapid environmental change. Many fear the road could push the ecosystem past a breaking point yet also recognize the need for jobs.A strategically important mineral depositThe Ambler Mining District holds one of the largest undeveloped sources of copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold in North America. Demand for minerals used in renewable energy is expected to grow, though most copper mined in the U.S. currently goes to construction — not green technologies. Critics say the road raises broader questions about who gets to decide the terms of mineral extraction on Indigenous lands.Climate change has already devastated subsistence resourcesNorthwest Alaska is warming about four times faster than the global average — a shift that has already upended daily life. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd, once nearly half a million strong, has fallen 66% in two decades to around 164,000 animals. Warmer temperatures delay cold and snow, disrupting migration routes and keeping caribou high in the Brooks Range where hunters can’t easily reach them.Salmon runs have suffered repeated collapses as record rainfall, warmer rivers and thawing permafrost transform once-clear streams. In some areas, permafrost thaw has released metals into waterways, adding to the stress on already fragile fish populations.“Elders who’ve lived here their entire lives have never seen environmental conditions like this,” one local environmental official said.The road threatens what remainsThe Ambler road would cross a vast, largely undisturbed region to reach major deposits of copper, zinc and other minerals. Building it would require nearly 50 bridges, thousands of culverts and more than 100 truck trips a day during peak operations. Federal biologists warn naturally occurring asbestos could be kicked up by passing trucks and settle onto waterways and vegetation that caribou rely on. The Bureau of Land Management designated some <a href="https://ambleraccess.org/Portals/ambler/content/Home/Ambler_Road_Draft_EIS_Volume_1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:1.2 million acres;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">1.2 million acres</a> of nearby salmon spawning and caribou calving habitat as “critical environmental concern.”Mining would draw large volumes of water from lakes and rivers, disturb permafrost and rely on a tailings facility to hold toxic slurry. With record rainfall becoming more common, downstream communities fear contamination of drinking water and traditional foods.Locals also worry the road could eventually open to the public, inviting outside hunters into an already stressed ecosystem. Many point to Alaska’s Dalton Highway, which opened to public use despite earlier promises it would remain private.Ambler Metals, the company behind the mining project, says it uses proven controls for work in permafrost and will treat all water the mine has contact with to strict standards. The company says it tracks precipitation to size facilities for heavier rainfall.A potential economic lifelineFor some, the mine represents opportunity in a region where gasoline can cost nearly $18 a gallon and basic travel for hunting has become prohibitively expensive. Supporters argue mining jobs could help people stay in their villages, which face some of the highest living costs in the country.Ambler mayor Conrad Douglas summed up the tension: “I don’t really know how much the state of Alaska is willing to jeopardize our way of life, but the people do need jobs.”___Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ahammergram/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:@ahammergram.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">@ahammergram.</a>___The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment</a></div>

In Northwest Alaska, a proposed mining road has become a flashpoint in a region already stressed by climate change.  The 211-mile (340-kilometer) Ambler Access Road would cut through Gates of the Arctic National Park and cross 11 major rivers and thousands of streams relied on for salmon and caribou.  The Trump administration approved the project this fall, setting off concerns over how the Inupiaq subsistence way of life can survive amid rapid environmental change.

Takeaways from AP’s report on potential impacts of Alaska’s proposed Ambler Access Road

Living abroad is a groundbreaking encounter that offers social inundation as well as significant self-improvement. Whether it's for


Living Abroad: Social Inundation and Self-improvement


A growing number of medical experts and officials are walking back shaken baby syndrome testimony that put parents behind bars. They face an uphill battle.

Experts who once backed 'shaken baby' science now fight to free imprisoned caregivers

Influenza is on the rise. Flu activity was "high" or "very high" in 32 states and jurisdictions, as of Dec. 30, according to the CDC.

Flu season is underway. What are common symptoms to watch for?

The Mont Blanc road tunnel linking France and Italy reopened to traffic on Friday following the completion of construction work. Webcam video on the tunnel's website showed vehicles passing through toll booths in the evening.

Mont Blanc road tunnel reopens to traffic after 15 weeks of repairs

Consumer choices about what to eat and how much of it can affect how much water farmers need to use.

2 ways you can conserve the water used to make your food

The guidelines encourage diets focused on whole foods and protein-rich meals.

RFK Jr. releases new dietary guidelines with emphasis on protein, full-fat dairy

Scientists newly described how a parasitic ant queen infiltrates another ant species’ colony and tricks the workers into killing their mother.

Scientists uncover an ant assassination scheme that helps a parasitic queen rise to power

Virtual entertainment has altered the manner in which we associate, convey, and share data in the advanced age. With billions of individuals


Find the Effect of Web-based Entertainment on Society: Exploring the Computerized Scene


Your house is a material ready to be decorated with your own touch and imagination. Do-It-Yourself home stylistic theme offers a phenomenal chance to inject your residing space with style, character, and a feeling of a


The Craft of Do-It-Yourself Home Stylistic layout: Change Your Space


NASA's Hubble Space Telescope got a rare look at the aftermath of two cosmic collisions — and helped scientists solve a decades-old mystery.  Many years ago, scientists saw a dense, bright spot near a young star called Fomalhaut.  Scientists had stumbled on the dusty debris from two cosmic crashes.

Hubble Space Telescope spies dusty debris from two cosmic collisions

When Scott Hussey heard about the Trump administration’s eagerness to pay for workout equipment in airports, he could not find an upside. If someone got hurt on a pull-up bar, who would they sue? What happens to bags left unattended while travelers get in a few reps? Might this unleash a wave of fitness influencers making - shudder - content at the airport?Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. “It just struck me as being ki

Working out at the airport? Some fliers can already smell the sweat.

Mother of Colorado man who committed suicide in 2025 alleges that OpenAI's AI chatbot told him death was a "beautiful place."

ChatGPT served as "suicide coach" in man's death, lawsuit alleges

Nursing is a respectable and requesting calling, with compensations changing essentially founded on various elements. While the errors in pay


The most effective method to Comprehend the Variables Affecting Medical attendant Pay rates


A vaccine panel led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to end the recommendation for hepatitis B shots for all newborns.