For four years, Biden and his environmental allies blocked roads, canceled leases, and strangled projects. [some emphasis, links added]
That could have made America resource independent.
But Trump just fast-tracked one Alaska gold mine that Biden tried to bury.
Trump Administration Unleashes Johnson Tract Through FAST-41
The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council announced December 2 that Contango Ore’s Johnson Tract gold-silver-zinc-lead project in south-central Alaska has been accepted for coordinated permitting under the FAST-41 program.¹
This is the 51st critical mineral and mining project added to FAST-41 under Trump’s second administration.
“I am thrilled to welcome the 51st critical mineral and mining project to FAST-41,” said Permitting Council Executive Director Emily Domenech.²
The Johnson Tract sits about 125 miles southwest of Anchorage on the west side of Cook Inlet.
Location matters here because the site’s proximity to tidewater means Contango can ship ore by water to refining facilities elsewhere.
That eliminates the need for a massive on-site refining operation with all the tailings and mine waste that come with it.
The deposit hosts 3.49 million metric tons of indicated resource averaging 5.33 grams per metric ton of gold, 6 grams per metric ton of silver, 5.21% zinc, 0.59% copper, and 0.67% lead.³
An initial assessment outlines plans for an underground mine that would produce roughly 500,000 ounces of gold, 500,000 ounces of silver, 32.2 million pounds of copper, 279.3 million pounds of zinc, and 41.8 million pounds of lead from 2.7 million metric tons of ore mined over seven years.⁴
Every single one of those minerals is strategic.
The United States currently imports many of these critical minerals from geopolitical competitors, leaving segments of the American economy vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and foreign influence.
Biden Strangled Alaska Development For Four Years
The Johnson Tract represents everything Biden opposed.
His administration spent four years blocking Alaska resource development at every turn.
Biden killed the Ambler Road project that would have provided access to a $7.5 billion copper deposit.
His Interior Department blocked oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that Trump had approved.
The EPA threatened to veto the Pebble Project before it could even complete the permitting process.
Biden’s Bureau of Land Management approved only 20 mine plans during his entire presidency.⁵
Compare that to the Trump administration’s first term, when BLM approved between 21 and 29 mines per year.⁶
The typical mine permitting process in the United States stretches seven to ten years.
Countries like Australia and Canada complete permitting in two to five years, giving them a massive competitive advantage.
Biden did nothing to fix this permitting gridlock that discourages domestic production and increases dependence on foreign adversaries.
Trump’s FAST-41 Program Changes Everything
FAST-41 doesn’t change any environmental law or regulation.
It doesn’t predetermine the outcome of any federal decision-making process.
Rather, FAST-41 provides coordinated interagency permitting with defined timelines and a public dashboard that offers transparency and accountability.
Projects get stuck for years in environmental reviews because of agency overlap and inconsistent timelines.
FAST-41 solves that problem by establishing clear schedules and eliminating duplication.
Six of the mining projects accepted for FAST-41 permitting are now in Alaska.
Johnson Tract joins Donlin Gold and Graphite Creek as high-profile Alaska mine projects receiving the full suite of benefits.
Alaska signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with the Permitting Council in August to coordinate permitting FAST-41-eligible projects.
“Alaska is heavily reliant on cooperation with the federal government and its agencies,” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said. “The FAST-41 process is critical to shorten timelines and add certainty to permitting.”⁷
The Trump administration has steadily added mining projects to FAST-41 since returning to office.
They’re not just talking about American energy dominance.
They’re delivering it.
The Johnson Tract project will be led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with enhanced coordination and predictable timelines.
“We look forward to working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, cooperating state and federal agencies, and CIRI and their stakeholders,” said Contango Ore President and CEO Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse.⁸
America’s Treasure Chest Is Open For Business Again
Alaska hosts 49 out of 50 U.S. critical minerals.
The state contains some of the nation’s richest deposits of copper and gold.
But for four years, Biden treated this national treasure chest like it was radioactive.
His administration blocked projects, canceled leases, and strangled development with endless environmental reviews.
The environmental lobby will push back hard against projects like Johnson Tract.
Most of these activists don’t live anywhere near Alaska and have never set foot on the sites they’re trying to shut down.
But Manhattan leftists who’ve never seen a grizzly bear aren’t going to stop the rush of energy and mineral exploration Trump has unleashed.
Alaska is a massive state with plenty of pristine wilderness for people to enjoy.
There’s room for both responsible resource development and environmental protection.
The difference is that Trump understands America can’t remain dependent on China and other hostile nations for critical minerals.
Biden never grasped that basic national security reality.
Now, Trump is fixing Biden’s mistakes one project at a time.
Johnson Tract is just the beginning.
Top image via HighGold Mining Inc/YouTube screencap
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