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Friends of West Susitna back governor’s permitting funds for state‑land access road
Summary
A longtime outdoor‑recreation advocate testified that the governor’s capital request includes $2.5 million to continue permitting for a multiuse road on state lands to access West Susitna resources and that local groups support continuing the permitting work without federal interference beyond required environmental review.
Rod Arno, a Palmer resident and board member of Friends of West Susitna, testified to the Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 27 in support of the governor’s capital request for permitting work related to a proposed multiuse access road on state lands.
Arno said the project — which he said would provide access to state lands and resources and has been discussed since 2014 — presents a “golden opportunity” to build a road on state lands that does not require extended federal oversight beyond an environmental assessment. He said the Friends of West Susitna support the governor’s request for $2.5 million for the Alaska Department of Administration (ADA) to continue permitting past areas where DOT is building road segments.
Why it matters: Testimony framed the project as a multiuse access opportunity for Alaskans and requested state permitting funds; environmental review and coordination with federal agencies were referenced but described as limited to standard assessment requirements.
Ending: The request was presented as public testimony; permitting and capital funding decisions will be addressed in the capital budget process.
