West Susitna Access:


404 Permitting
 

The West Susitna Access Project will require a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before any construction can begin. A 404 permit is required under the Clean Water Act whenever a project places fill, such as gravel, rock, or roadbed material, into wetlands, rivers, streams, or other waters of the United States. For a major road spanning hundreds of miles of wetlands and salmon habitat, this is one of the most significant federal approvals AIDEA must obtain.​ Before the Corps can decide whether to issue or deny a permit, AIDEA must submit a complete application package detailing the project’s design, impacts, alternatives, and mitigation.

 

To support transparency in this process, the Susitna River Coalition is sharing the documents we received through a 2025 public records request to AIDEA.

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These records include:

• AIDEA’s official Form 4345 application and cover letter

• The Jurisdictional Determination Report outlining wetlands and waters impacted by the project

• The most recent project description and appendices, which explain design features, access routes, and anticipated effects

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These materials form the foundation of how the project is being characterized to federal regulators. By making them publicly available, we hope to ensure that community members, Tribal governments, and local organizations have access to the same information being provided to decision-makers.

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Once the Corps determines AIDEA’s application is complete, it will open a public comment period, likely only 7-15 days, for expedited permitting. That is why understanding these documents ahead of time is so important.

 

During the comment period, the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on:

• the extent of wetland and stream impacts

• whether the project meets Clean Water Act standards

• whether less damaging alternatives exist

• impacts to fish, wildlife, water quality, and subsistence

• effects on cultural and community resources

• whether a full Environmental Impact Statement should be required​​​​

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                       Section 404 Permit Timeline (So Far)

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• July 24, 2025 – AIDEA submits its Section 404 permit application : AIDEA submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit to fill wetlands and waterways for the proposed West Susitna Access Road. (Source: AIDEA Cover Letter & Form 4345)

 

• August 13, 2025 – Corps informs AIDEA the application is incomplete. In a recorded call, the Corps told AIDEA the application was missing key elements needed to prepare a Public Notice. “This information is needed for the Public Notice.”— USACE, Memorandum for the Record (8/13/25)

 

• August 26, 2025 – USACE issues a formal Request for Information (RFI) The Corps details the missing information that must be supplied before the application can be considered complete and before a Public Notice can be issued. “We need additional information… to prepare a public notice with sufficient information to give a clear understanding of the nature and magnitude of your proposed activity.” — USACE RFI (8/26/25) Until this information is received, the application is incomplete and no public comment period can begin.

 

• Fall 2025 – AIDEA has not yet provided the required information As of now, the Corps is still waiting for revised materials and required details. The Corps cannot issue a Public Notice or open a comment period until AIDEA submits a complete package.

What AIDEA Still Needs to Provide

(Based on the USACE RFI)

Below is a simplified summary of the missing items the Corps says are required before they can issue a Public Notice. These come directly from Section A of the RFI (“Information needed for publication of a public notice”).

1. A complete, accurate project footprint: USACE specifically asked AIDEA to provide: A map identifying all wetlands and waters within the project footprint, Clear shapefiles and figures showing extent of impacts, A breakdown of acreage of impacts by type of waterbody.

Why this matters: Without this, the Corps cannot determine the scope or scale of wetland loss.

2. A revised project description & Purpose and Need: USACE stated that AIDEA’s purpose-and-need statement was unclear and did not match the project as submitted.
They need: A clear and consistent purpose and need; A revised project description consistent across all documents; Clarification on why the road alignment exits onto private property rather than a public highway

3. A functional connection to the transportation network: The Corps told AIDEA: The current proposed alignment does not connect to the existing highway system. AIDEA must explain or correct this before notice can proceed

4. Adjacent landowner list: Required for mailing notices when the public comment period opens. AIDEA’s list was incomplete and must be corrected.

5. A proposed schedule: USACE requested a timeline for construction, a timeline for staging, fill placement, and site disturbance- all of which were missing.

6. Updated design information & alignment details: USACE noted inconsistencies across, the project description, appendix materials, the Jurisdictional Determination report, and the Form 4345. These discrepancies must be reconciled.

Bottom Line: As of now, AIDEA has not provided all of the required information. Because the application remains incomplete, the Corps cannot issue a Public Notice, and therefore the public comment window has not opened. When the Corps does receive the full set of materials, it will move the project into Public Notice (likely under a short deadline) making it important for the public to understand these documents ahead of time.

This means the public comment window is not yet active, and when it does open, it may be short and fast-tracked. Understanding the documents in advance is essential.