Ambler
RSSNews from Ambler, Alaska
Local organizations and topics
Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
Editorial map (Gemini + Google Maps)
Ambler Road hunting closure up for Nov. 20 vote traces to a confidential agreement
The Alaska Board of Game will decide Nov. 20 whether to close a two-mile-wide strip along the proposed Ambler Road to hunting and trapping, a step called for in a confidential memorandum among state agencies, Native corporations, a mining company and the federal government.
The proposal before the board was submitted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, one of the memorandum's parties. It doesn't mention the agreement. But a department official pointed the Matanuska Valley advisory committee to it this summer and called the closure "the first step" toward moving the road forward, according to committee minutes.
The board, which tabled the closure in July, moved it up to a Nov. 20 web conference. It will take written comments until 8 am Nov. 16 but no testimony at the meeting.
What the closure would do
The Ambler Road would run 211 miles west from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District. It hasn't been built, and seven conservation groups are challenging the state's easement in court.
The closure would cover one mile on each side of the road, about 420 square miles, according to department staff comments. Those comments say hunters and trappers could still cross the corridor to reach open areas.
The version the board considered in July had no end date. The version before it now would close the corridor from July 1, 2029, through Jan. 1, 2036, unless the board extends it. The November regulation text doesn't explain the dates or say anything about crossing.
The agreement
The memorandum of understanding is among the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, which is developing the road; the Department of Fish and Game; NANA Regional Corporation; Doyon, Limited; K'oyitl'ots'ina, Limited; Ambler Metals LLC; and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Under a section titled "Hunting Buffer," the parties agree to work with the Fish and Game commissioner to propose that the Board of Game prohibit hunting and fishing within a mile on each side of the road. The buffer "will not prevent the ability of subsistence users to safely cross" the road, the memorandum says.
The memorandum says it "is not binding on the Parties" and can be changed only "by unanimous written agreement of the Parties." It is stamped "CONFIDENTIAL." A copy is nonetheless attached to a public notice for a July 7 meeting of the Matanuska Valley Fish and Game Advisory Committee.
AIDEA's board authorized its executive director to enter into the agreement on Sept. 26, 2025. The agency's Nov. 4 agenda lists an amended version of that resolution without saying what would change. AIDEA continued the meeting to Friday afternoon, with a closed session that included the road. The public record doesn't yet show whether the amendment passed.
What did you make of this story? (no account needed)
Have a story from Ambler? Send a tip
Stories on what’s next
Alaska Board of Game written comment deadline: Ambler Road hunting and trapping closure (GMUs 23, 24)
Fairbanks advisory committee to elect seven, with Ambler no-hunting corridor on agenda
Fairbanks' fish and game advisory committee elects seven members Nov. 11, then turns to the Ambler Road no-hunting corridor it already voted 13-0 against.
Latest
October 2026
Arctic mine developer wraps summer drilling, says its focus is shifting toward building
Ambler Metals drilled 42 holes at the proposed Arctic copper mine and says its focus is shifting to preparing to build. It wants a federal decision in 2028.
by Melinda Communities.News2w ago2 min readFrom 
Draft study backs regional co-ops for rural Alaska tank farms, comments due Friday
A draft study says rural Alaska tank farms should team up in regional co-ops to save money. Comments are due Friday, so speak now or hold your diesel.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read
Board of Game moves Ambler Road hunting closure up to a Nov. 20 web conference
The Board of Game shelved the Ambler Road hunting closure until its January meeting in Kotzebue. Now it's Nov. 20, online, with no testimony taken.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Conservation groups appeal state's Ambler road easement in Anchorage Superior Court
Seven conservation groups asked a judge to overturn DNR's easement for the Ambler road. Both sides cite the state Supreme Court's Donlin ruling.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago5 min read
AIDEA looks at modular bridges used at Red Dog Mine for the proposed Ambler road
AIDEA toured modular steel bridges at Red Dog Mine as it weighs them for the proposed Ambler road, a project NANA and Tanana Chiefs have opposed.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read
September 2026
AIDEA's board takes six major projects into executive session in Kotzebue
AIDEA's board meets in Kotzebue with Ambler, Red Dog, ANWR and West Susitna on the closed agenda — listed by name, with nothing said about what's up.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read
Federal environmental review begins for the Arctic copper mine near Kobuk
The Army Corps is starting its environmental review of the Arctic copper mine near Kobuk, with a final decision targeted for September 2028.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
AIDEA will discuss the Ambler road in Kotzebue, with the public out
AIDEA's board will talk about the Ambler road in Kotzebue next week, behind closed doors. The public portion covers meeting dates and a conference.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago1 min read
More from Ambler
The federal stake in Trilogy Metals closes, terms made public
The federal government now owns about a tenth of Trilogy Metals, developer of Alaska's Ambler district, and the terms of the $35.6 million deal are now public.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom 
Washington bought into Ambler. The payoff depends on the road being built
The federal government will own about 10 percent of Trilogy Metals, but cannot cash in most of its stake until the Ambler road is built.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min readFrom 
August 2026
Alaska's development authority again takes ANWR and Ambler to closed session
Alaska's development authority will again discuss two divisive projects — ANWR oil drilling and the Ambler mining road — in closed session this week.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min read
Ambler district copper mine nears its first public comment period
A copper mine proposed 22 miles from Kobuk is moving through federal permitting. Residents could get their first chance to comment as soon as September.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago3 min read
The fate of the EPA veto blocking Pebble Mine is now in a federal judge's hands
A federal judge is deciding whether the EPA veto blocking Pebble Mine survives, a fight over Bristol Bay salmon with Alaska Native parties on both sides.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
Ambler advances, but the U.S. stake in its developer hasn't closed
Ambler Road permits are back in force and the project is advancing, but the U.S. government's planned stake in developer Trilogy Metals still hasn't closed.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
July 2026
Judge declines to block 1.4 million-acre Alaska land transfer
A judge won't freeze Alaska's claim to 1.4 million acres of federal land, pushing the state past 96 percent of its 1959 statehood entitlement. The lawsuit lives on.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
A permitting bill could open the federal fast lane to Alaska projects
A bill would drop the federal fast-track permitting threshold to $50 million — opening the program to Alaska projects too small to qualify until now.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
About Ambler
Ambler, also called Ivisaappaat, is an Iñupiaq village in the Northwest Arctic Borough. It sits on the Ambler River, and subsistence caribou hunting anchors community life.
The village gives its name to the Ambler Road, a proposed industrial access route to copper and other mineral deposits in the Ambler district, backed by the state development authority AIDEA and opposed by regional Native organizations such as NANA and Tanana Chiefs and by conservation groups. Recurring questions include federal permitting of the Arctic copper mine near Kobuk, closed-door board discussions of the road, and a proposed no-hunting corridor along it before the Board of Game.
Wildfire is a recurring threat, including to the village landfill, where burning trash raises concern about toxic smoke for elders and children. Ambler's neighbors in the borough include Kobuk, Shungnak and Kotzebue.
More from Ambler
A gravel permit for the pipeline, and a question about what Alyeska pays
A routine permit lets Alyeska pull gravel from the Sag floodplain for pipeline upkeep — but not what the private pipeline giant pays the public for it. A senator's been asking.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Selawik fuel tank farm, solar array threatened by landfill fire
A tundra fire that escaped Selawik's landfill Monday grew to 20 acres and now threatens the village's fuel tank farm and solar array, its only source of heating fuel and diesel power.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
June 2026
Jade Fire reaches 40% containment near Ambler; Whakatna Fire controlled
Jade Fire near Ambler is 40% contained with unburned ground between the fire and the community landfill, while 22 smokejumpers freed from two controlled fires are now fighting new ignitions near Ruby.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Jade Fire ignites near Kopshesut origin point, threatens Ambler landfill
You bought one fire was bad? How about two fires!
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Second Fire in Two Weeks Ignites Near Ambler on Kobuk River
A second wildfire ignited Sunday near Ambler on the Kobuk River, less than two weeks after a landfill fire burned 1,447 acres in the same area.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Ambler landfill fire burns Native allotment, raises toxic smoke fears
A landfill fire that started June 4 in Ambler has burned nearly 1,500 acres including a Native allotment, with smoke from burning trash posing health risks to elders, children, and people with heart or lung conditions.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Iron Dog race expands route to Huslia, Shungnak, Ambler
Iron Dog snowmachine race will expand its 2,500-mile route through Huslia, Shungnak, and Ambler after federal wildlife officials reversed a prior denial, clearing permits to cross three national refuges and parks.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Iron Dog expands route to Huslia, Shungnak, Ambler after federal reversal
Vroom, vroom
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago1 min readFrom 
A wildfire that started in a village landfill has burned to within a mile of Ambler — and warmer weather is coming
Crews have reached 40 percent containment on the 1,447 acre Kopshesut Fire near Ambler. • Warming weather this week could push toxic landfill smoke into the village. • Residents should monitor air quality for health risks. • Check the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation website for updates.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Ambler wildfire reaches 1,500 acres as fire activity slows
The Kopshesut Fire near Ambler has burned nearly 1,500 acres and slowed to creeping and smoldering as 68 firefighters and aircraft apply water and hold the line within a mile of the village.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Firefighters hold flare-up on Kopshesut Fire near Ambler
Firefighters held back a flare-up on the Kopshesut Fire near Ambler on Saturday, keeping it to about 1,500 acres and 20% contained as 68 personnel work to stop the spread toward the village.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Fire burns within mile of Ambler as crews race to protect village
The Kopshesut Fire burned within a mile of Ambler on Friday, with 24 smokejumpers and incoming crews working to protect the village of 274 residents before winds push the 500-acre blaze closer.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
May 2026
AG Nominee Cox Defends 110+ Amicus Briefs, Faces Questions on Alaska Priorities
Attorney General-designee Stephen Cox defended his rapid pace of joining national legal briefs as senators questioned his focus on Alaska priorities.
by Alaska News6mo ago4 min read