Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/03/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
SB229 | |
SB256 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 229 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 256 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
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." Co-Chair Stedman related that the purpose today was to hear the bill and allow public testimony. 9:18:53 AM SENATOR JOE THOMAS, SPONSOR, read the sponsor statement. 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 forest to the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. In 1983, the Legislature created the 1.8 million-acre4 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 dedicate3d 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 hungt6in, 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 all 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. 9:21:28 AM Co-Chair Stedman requested an explanation of the map (copy on file). 9:21:46 AM Senator Thomas related that the Division of Forestry would be better able to provide the map explanation. 9:22:13 AM Senator Dyson noted that Fiscal Note #1 reflects 100,000 acres being added and approximately 66,000 acres being deleted. He was curious as to what is being deleted and why. 9:22:50 AM Senator Thomas mentioned that the Division of Forestry would be better at explaining the deletions and additions. 9:23:20 AM GRIER HOPKINS, STAFF, SENATOR THOMAS, offered that two representatives from the Division of Forestry were online and ready to speak on the subject. 9:24:16 AM CHRIS MAISCH, DIRECTOR AND STATE FORESTER, DIVISION OF FORESTRY (Testified via teleconference), referred to the enclosed map (copy on file). He pointed out, in the upper left side of the map at the Minto Wildlife Refuge, three parcels in orange as proposed deletions from the Tanana State Forest to be transferred into the Minto Wildlife Refuge. He explained that as wetlands they are better managed by the wildlife refuge. He indicated that in the extreme left (orange half-circle) there is an oxbow of the Tolovana River which has good quality timber but being isolated from the rest of the state forest, it better suited to be put in the refuge. On the extreme east side of the refuge there a light green-colored parcel is a proposed addition into the Tanana State Forest. The Dunbar Trail goes through this area and continues into the Refuge requiring some access management coordination. 9:26:47 AM Mr. Maisch indicated a yellow portion, 4B, will be removed from the Tanana State Forest. It is mostly recreational making it difficult to manage for commercial forestry uses. Mr. Maisch described in the middle of the map, the Big Delta area, there are light green parcels. These parcels, south of 7A and 7B and north of Fort Greely will be additions into the Tanana State Forest. Mr. Maisch indicated that a small parcel on the Good Pasture River drainage, part of a research natural area will also be added to the Tanana State Forest. Near Dot Lake (between 10D and 12B) a number of parcels scattered around the area are intermixed with native corporation lands and the Tanana State Forest. This change will clean up the boundaries and make them more consistent with the ownership in the area. Mr. Maisch pointed out that in the regions close to Tok, near 13A and 13B, in the Tanana State Forest just north of the Tanana River, are all productive forest lands. Mr. Maisch indicated that to the north of these regions, in yellow, 12A, 13A, 13B, are proposed deletions to the Tanana State Forest. These parcels are more appropriately managed as general use state lands since they do not have any large concentration of productive forests. Mr. Maisch continued that north of these regions, in yellow (12A) and light green the land would be transposed to correct an earlier legal drafting error. Mr. Maisch concluded by saying one of the reasons the Division of Forestry would like to see the state forest additions is they have been working with alternative energy plans, particularly bio-energy and wood fuel. He mentioned that projects in Tok, Delta, and several smaller villages in the area are looking at wood boiler systems for space heating needs in village and community schools. Mr. Maisch stressed that having a near-by working forest to provide sustainable wood to those communities is very important. 9:31:34 AM Co-Chair Stedman questioned if there was anyone who wished to speak to the bill. Mr. Hopkins indicated that there had been no objection from any of the surrounding communities in regard to the changes in this bill. Co-Chair Stedman inquired as to the public process used in determining the additions and deletions. Mr. Hopkins referred to the Division of Forestry online. 9:32:47 AM MARTHA FREEMAN, FORESTRY RESOURCES PROGRAM MANAGER, DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY (Testified via teleconference), explained the public process by stating that the main review for this project began when updating the Tanana Valley Forestry Management Plan, which culminated in an update in 2001. As part of the preparation for that update, the package of proposed additions and deletions went out as a public draft. The participants in discussion included a citizens' advisory committee, an inter-agency planning team, and public meetings throughout the Tanana Valley area. Ms. Freeman noted that when public comments were received, there had been a few parcels that generated objections or controversy, so these parcels were deleted from this plan. She informed the committee that the final package for this bill had no objections remaining after this public process. Ms. Maisch informed the committee that as some time had passed since the original public feedback, the division questioned special interest groups and landowners to make sure there were no new problem since the original meetings. The division also checked on the present land status to locate any possible land changes. When changes were found, some parcels were deleted, primarily concerning land transferred to the University. 9:35:08 AM Senator Olson wondered if there had been any objections from the native corporations. Ms. Freeman responded there had been no objection from the native communities on the reorganization. She mentioned one concern of the native communities was access areas in the Minto region, but the reorganization does not change the access to these lands. 9:35:52 AM JERRY MCCUTCHEON, ANCHORAGE, (Testified via teleconference), questioned if this plan followed the best use of Mat-Su area in taking down all the timber. He recommended that the land remain intact and not be logged. 9:38:35 AM Co-Chair Stedman pointed out for the record the pulp mill in Sitka did not ship round logs to Japan. He explained that round logs are shipped off of private land, including native land, and the Mental Health Trust lands. 9:39:26 AM Senator Thomas MOVED to REPORT SB 229 from Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SB 229 was REPORTED from Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and previously published fiscal notes from the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Administration. AT EASE: 9:40:30 AM RECONVENED: 10:49:24 AM
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
---|