Arctic Project Receives Coordinated Federal and State Permitting Schedule Under FAST-41
Integrated timetable establishes milestones for federal and state review, bringing greater predictability and transparency to the permitting of one of the world's highest-grade copper deposits
Anchorage, Alaska — July 13, 2026 —Today, Ambler Metals released the following statement upon the publication of a federal and state permitting schedule for its Arctic Project, located in the Ambler Mining District in Northwest Alaska. The schedule has been posted to the Federal Permitting Dashboard pursuant to the FAST-41 framework (established by Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act), under which the Arctic Project received "covered project" status in May 2026. The published timetable sets defined milestones for the federal environmental review and associated state authorizations required to advance the project toward a final Record of Decision.
“A clear, transparent permitting schedule benefits everyone, particularly the agencies conducting the review, the stakeholders following our progress, and the communities nearest this project,” said Ron Rimelman, President of Ambler Metals. “As we move through this rigorous and predictable permitting schedule, we will continue to work hand-in-hand with our federal and state partners to meet each milestone, while continuing to build trust and keep regional stakeholders informed at every stage. Alaska has an unrivaled track record of responsible resource development that balances industry with the protection of our wildlife and landscapes, and we will uphold that standard throughout this schedule and beyond.” “We continue to maintain that mining in the Upper Kobuk must be built on a foundation of lasting local support, and we will continue to prioritize deep engagement with nearby villages and regional stakeholders to ensure the Arctic Project delivers multi-generational economic growth and high-quality jobs."
In April, Ambler Metalssubmitted an application for a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers which initiated federal permitting to build and operate the Arctic mining project. As part of the ongoing cooperation and execution of the August 2025 Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Permitting Council, the State of Alaska has agreed to opt-in and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Permitting Council to integrate schedules into a single permitting plan. The coordinated schedule reflects the project's advanced stage of technical and environmental readiness.
First discovered in the 1970s, Arctic is one of the world’s highest-grade copper deposits with an estimated grade of approximately 5% copper equivalent. The deposit spans 0.4 square miles and holds an estimated 46.7 million tonnes of probable mineral reserves, including copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver. Ambler Metals has an established partnership with NANA, known as the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP), to explore mining in the area.
Development of the Arctic deposit would lead to an estimated 1,000 jobs in both construction and operations, $407 million in State revenue, and $60 million in wages per year. Ambler Metals advances the project in partnership with NANA Regional Corporation through the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP).
About Ambler Metals
Ambler Metals LLC is an independently operated joint venture formed by South32 and Trilogy Metals on February 11, 2020, for the exploration and development of the Upper Kobuk Mineral Projects (UKMP) and advancement of projects in the Ambler Mining District in collaboration with NANA Regional Corporation. Ambler Metals is an Alaskan company with offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks
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