Foothills West Transportation Access Project, North Slope, Alaska (2009-Ongoing): In 2009, 3PPI was selected from eight bidding firms as the most qualified team to lead this important State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) infrastructure project. The Foothills West Transportation Access project proposes to construct a road from the Dalton Highway to Umiat. The purpose of the project is to provide access to oil and gas resources along the northwestern foothills of the Brooks Range, and provide access to oil and gas resources within the National Petroleum Reserve‐Alaska (NPR-A). The road would provide both exploration and development opportunities for the area, as well as facilitate economically feasible NPR-A development.

The 3PPI scope of work involves permit development, wetland and vegetation delineations and mapping, wildlife habitat delineations, cultural resource and subsistence evaluations, community involvement, route refinement, phase 1 site investigations, air quality and noise evaluations, and GIS database management. 3PPIs team includes four highly specialized subcontractors. The project is in a remote location on the North Slope of Alaska, which requires careful logistics management and team coordination. Like our mining projects, the initial study area evaluated in 2009 and 2010 expanded, more than tripling from approximately 30,000 acres to over 104,000 acres by the end of 2012. A comprehensive PJD report was prepared in early 2013 and is under review by the client. 3PPI is currently performing a comprehensive corridor analysis which includes the work of 3PPI wetland, aquatic, and wildlife scientists; DOT&PF engineering staff and subcontractors; and our subconsultant specialists in subsistence and cultural resources. This report will include the same HGM-based functional assessment method being deployed by 3PPI on the Donlin Gold project as well as a detailed analysis of the functionality of habitats and resources along the well-studied Dalton Highway and in core project areas west of the highway. This evaluation is being completed using both public and proprietary data sources obtained from 3PPI’s acquisition of the Yukon Pacific Corporation’s assets in 2012.

3PPI work on the Foothills project is based from our Fairbanks office, with support from other team members as needed.