House Vote Could Clear Way for Trans-Alaska Gas Pipeline, Ambler Road Access

The U.S. House approved a measure to roll back land restrictions, potentially opening the way for Alaska’s LNG pipeline and Ambler Road project. The Senate will now consider the repeal.

(P&GJ) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Sept. 3 to overturn land management rules that have been viewed as obstacles to major development projects in Alaska, including the proposed trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline and the 211-mile Ambler Road, according to the Alaska Beacon.

The repeal targets the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, finalized at the end of the Biden administration, which critics said limited Alaska’s ability to advance large-scale infrastructure.

Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, led the effort using the Congressional Review Act, while Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., called the measure a necessary first step toward state land acquisitions that are “critical” for both projects.

Supporters, including regional Alaska Native corporation Doyon Inc., argued that eliminating the restrictions would unlock economic opportunities. Opponents, such as the Bering Sea-Interior Tribal Commission and Protect the Kobuk, countered that the move would undercut protections for tribal lands and strip subsistence hunting rights if lands shift to state control, as reported by the Alaska Beacon.

The repeal now moves to the Senate, where it has the backing of both of Alaska’s senators and is expected to gain broad support.