Legislature(2007 - 2008)BARNES 124
03/31/2008 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR17 | |
| SB229 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 229 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 229-TANANA VALLEY FOREST/MINTO FLATS REFUGE 1:53:37 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON announced that the next order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 229, "An Act relating to the Tanana Valley State Forest and to assignment of certain forest land to the Minto Flats State Game Refuge; and providing for an effective date." SENATOR JOE THOMAS, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB 229, spoke from the following written sponsor statement [original punctuation provided]: Senate Bill 229 amends the boundaries of the Tanana Valley State Forest (TVSF) to correct errors in legal descriptions, reflect updated land status, and to better match the management intent for the Forest. This is done by adding and deleting boundary references to the legal descriptions in statute. These changes result in a net increase to the state forest of approximately 40,000 acres. SB 229 also moves approximately 4,300 acres from the state to the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. In 1983 the Legislature created the 1.8 million-acre Tanana Valley State Forest that stretches from Manley to Tok. The forest is open to mining, gravel extraction, oil and gas leasing, and grazing. The Department of Natural Resources manages the state forests for a sustained yield of these resources, with the primary purpose of timber management (AS 41.17.200). The Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest, a 12,400-acre area dedicated to forestry research, is also located within the state forest. State forests provide fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and minerals. In addition to the management of these resources, the Tanana Valley State Forest offers many recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, dog mushing, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, snow machining, gold panning, boating, and berry-picking. In 1996, the division updated the Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan and established a citizens' advisory committee. The 12-member citizen's advisory committee, representing a variety of state forest users, actively participates in forest planning in the Tanana Basin. This entity has endorsed the recommendations on management of the forest and has carefully crafted the changes in a manner that resulted in support from al affected land users and owners. SB 229 is supported by the Alaska State Forest Association, the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, hunting and recreation groups as well as all surrounding land owners. Please join me in amending the Tanana Valley State Forest to better align with its original intent and support the passage of Senate Bill 229. 1:56:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES inquired whether there is currently a permitting process or fee structure that would go into place. SENATOR THOMAS responded no, this is open land, unless there are some specific recreational use areas where there are charges. So, there are no fees. SENATOR THOMAS, in response to Co-Chair Johnson, reiterated that SB 229 would result in a 40,000 acre [net] increase to the state forest. It does not change any designations or any uses of the land other than the part that is put into the Minto Flats State Game Refuge, and that is pretty much all open as well. 1:57:53 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON asked what happens to the land and what type of designation is the deleted land. MARTHA FREEMAN, Forest Resources Program Manager, Director's Office, Division of Forestry, Department of Natural Resources, explained that 4,000 acres would be added to the refuge and the remaining lands [300 acres] would be state public domain land managed under the Tanana Basin Area Plan. The designations on most of these are for wildlife habitat and public recreation. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON inquired whether this would exclude any traditional uses on the land, such as hunting and fishing, that were previously allowed under state forest designation. MS. FREEMAN replied that the generally allowed uses on those lands will not change. 1:59:05 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON opened public testimony. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON asked what the difference is between a state forest and a state game refuge. MS. FREEMAN answered that legislatively designated state forest keeps the land in public ownership so it is not available for land disposal or sale to private interests, but it can be leased or permitted for other uses. While managed for multiple use, it is clear that commercial forest management is part of the use for the state forest. 2:00:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON inquired whether these different categories in state statute have a different meaning under land management plans. MS. FREEMAN said each has its own special legislative designation, so first of all the legislature would commit the land to a particular use. When state forests are established, the Division of Forestry develops a specific management plan for each state forest. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON surmised the Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan would not spill over into the [Minto Flats State] Game Refuge. MS. FREEMAN responded correct, there is a separate management plan for the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. 2:00:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON directed attention to the yellow blocks, 12A and 13B, on the Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan map. What are the reasons for changing those lands from a state forest designation to undesignated, he asked. MS. FREEMAN said the three parcels farthest to the southeast are wetland or muskeg areas without much forest potential. The fourth parcel in the northern end is high elevation land that also does not have much forest potential. Regarding the other areas, there was a drafting error in the original bill where two townships were flipped - originally the western township was supposed to be included and the eastern township was not - so this corrects that error. 2:02:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON inquired whether any of the deleted parcels are being actively pursued for some other usage. MS. FREEMAN replied no. The three parcels colored brown [on the map] are the ones that are wetland and proposed to be added to the Minto Flats State Game Refuge and they do not have commercial forestry potential. The other parcel is along the Chatinika River corridor and it is intensively used for public recreation and already has many private inholdings. 2:02:46 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON asked whether the no-net-loss of wetlands policy will apply to removing these wetlands from the state forest. MS. FREEMAN answered no, the wetlands are still being retained in state ownership and there is no development proposal. So, there is no change to their status in terms of wetland banking or mitigation. 2:03:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that the parcel labeled 4B, proposed for deletion from the state forest, has a fairly high usage and some inholdings. He understood the rest of that area could be available for disposal after it is out of the state forest. He said he wants to make sure that any disposal of those lands is through a full and open public process and surmised there would be no preferential ties. MS. FREEMAN said correct. There is no presumption that these parcels are available for disposal. In fact, none of the parcels coming out of the state forest are classified as settlement lands, they all happen to be wildlife habitat or public recreation. 2:05:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES inquired whether expansion of Alaska Railroad spur lines to military training sites could affect any of the areas in SB 229. MS. FREEMAN responded there is potential for rail extension to improve the access of some state lands in terms of commercial potential for transporting timber resources. However, she does not know that it goes through any of the parcels currently proposed for a change in status. In further response to Representative Roses, Ms. Freeman affirmed that the change in status would not prevent the railroad from going through any of those parcels. The legislation that establishes the forest makes it clear that transportation is one of the uses for which it is established. 2:06:26 PM CO-CHAIR JOHNSON closed public testimony after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify. CO-CHAIR JOHNSON stated he is not big on creating more park lands and tying up resources, so he does not have a problem with SB 229 because it would not minimize development. REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report SB 229 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 229 was reported out of the House Resources Standing Committee.
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