Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/29/2010 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB143 | |
| SB245 | |
| SB255 | |
| HB162 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 245 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 255 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 162 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 143 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 162-SOUTHEAST STATE FOREST
4:49:34 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced HB 162 to be up for
consideration.
4:49:38 PM
CHRIS MAISCH, Director, Division of Forestry, Department of
Natural Resources (DNR), said that HB 162 would establish a new
Southern Southeast State Forest and it would be managed as part
of the State Forest system under AS 41.17.200-230. Lands in the
State Forest would continue to be open for multiple uses
including wildlife habitat and harvest and recreational
activities. The State Forest designation would not affect the
Wrangell Borough municipal entitlement nor would it affect
calculation of entitlement acreage for future municipalities in
Southeast Alaska.
He explained that Section 1 (a) and (d) provide legal
descriptions for the lands to be designated as a Southeast State
Forest in AS 29.65.030. Designated lands include 20 parcels
totaling approximately 25,291 acres on Prince of Wales, Tuxekan,
Kosciusko, Hecate, Revilla and Gravina islands, and on the
mainland at Crittenden Creek. These parcels are an important
part of the state timber base but are classified as general use
lands, which may be sold in the future. Legislatively
designating a state forest would ensure that some land will
remain available for long term forest management and enable
thinning to increase timber volumes. Designated lands exclude
areas identified as important sites for future state land
disposals.
MR. MAISCH said the management plan and transportation corridors
were in subsection (b). It directs DNR to prepare a management
plan for the Southeast State Forest. Under AS 41.17.230 a
management plan is required within three years after a state
forest is established; and state forest management plans must
consider and permit multiple uses including recreation, tourism,
mining, use of fish and wildlife, and other traditional uses
unless the commissioner issues a site specific written finding
that a use is incompatible with one or more of the other uses.
Public interagency and board of Forestry review is required
prior to adoption of the state forest management plan. As in
other state forests, subsection (c) states the DNR commissioner
may also establish transportation corridors within the state
forest.
The next category (section 1) is municipal entitlements, and
subsection (e) clarifies the relationship of the Southeast State
Forest to current and potential municipal entitlements. State
Forest can affect the amount of land a municipality is entitled
to select and the land available for selection. The amount of
land a municipality may select is based on the maximum total
acreage of vacant unappropriated and unreserved land in the
borough boundaries within two years after the date of
incorporation (AS 29.65.030). Municipal selections are limited
to VUU land; land classified as general use land is VUU land,
but state forests are not.
He said that Southern Southeast State Forest is designated to
have no impact on Wrangell Borough land selections. The amount
of land that the Wrangell Borough may select is already fixed by
its date of incorporation and this bill specifies that it may
select state forest land within the borough boundary. Three
parcels in the Southeast State Forest are within the Wrangell
Borough Boundary. If new municipalities are incorporated before
June 30, 2019, the Southeast State Forest will not affect the
amount of land that they can select.
MR. MAISCH said HB 162 specifies that state forest lands that
were VUU lands before establishment of the State Forest will be
included in the calculation of the entitlement acreage. However,
parcels in the southern Southeast State Forest may not be
selected. If municipalities form after 2019, the amount and
location of their entitlement would be based on the VUU land at
that time.
MR. MAISCH said section 2, authorizes DNR to immediately adopt
regulations to implement the bill. Section 3 is the effective
date for regulations; section 2 takes effect immediately and
finally section 4 provides for an effective date of July 1 for
the State Forest; it currently reads 2008 and that will be
amended.
4:54:47 PM
He noted letters of support from the Resource Development
Council, the Southeast Conference, the Society of American
Foresters - both Juneau and Statewide Chapters, the City of
Wrangell, the Community of Coffman Cove, and the Alaska Forest
Association. The Board of Forestry supports this; the membership
of the board includes Alaska Native corporations, the Forest
Industry Trade Association, a non-government professional
forester, a non-governmental professional fish and wildlife
biologist, a mining organization, a commercial fish
organization, a recreation organization, and an environmental
organization. All those entities reached consensus on this and
unanimously supported this legislation. He said this is a
governor-sponsored bill and the administration supports it
wholeheartedly. He said this bill helps show the State of Alaska
will make investments in long term forest management in southern
Southeast and help these communities maintain diversification.
4:56:34 PM
SENATOR WAGONER asked if it is safe to assume all the units
either have water frontage for the timber to be taken off or
other access.
MR. MAISCH answered yes; all the parcels have either log
transfer facility access or the logs are already accessed by a
transportation system. On Prince of Wales that would be
primarily a road system.
SENATOR FRENCH asked what other steps would be necessary besides
passing this bill to get thinning started on these lands -
either through the state or other agencies.
MR. MAISCH replied that pre-commercial thinning can be done on
these lands now, but they have not been willing to make that
investment because these lands could be sold, selected by a
future municipal process or essentially be lost to state
ownership - and it's an expensive proposition to do pre-
commercial thinning. He said they did secure some American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for thinning, which
they will use.
SENATOR FRENCH asked what the state expenses are and why aren't
they borne by the people who are selling the logs.
4:58:27 PM
MR. MAISCH answered that the state currently has a pre-
commercial thinning program in the Haines State Forest (in
Southeast). They have not been willing to spend their funding on
land that is not allocated for long term management. The ARRA
funds supplement the money they already have.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked how much timber volume is on these lands
in percentage of old growth versus what had been harvested since
industrialized logging in the 1950s.
MR. MAISCH replied about 1,100 acres of state forest land has
previously been harvested. The 29,000 acres is not all
productive forest land. The allowable cut for these parcels of
land is 8.7 million feet annually. To put that in perspective,
he said the current Tongass Land Use Management Plan (TLUMP)
calls for up to 100 million feet of volume to be harvested
annually.
SENATOR STEDMAN said he thought they used to do around 369
million board feet.
MR. MAISCH explained there are three phases of the TLUMP, and
the third phase calls for up to 280 million feet.
SENATOR STEDMAN said the forest is proposed to be 25,300 acres
and asked how much acreage is commercial timber, second growth
and scrub land that has no significant timber volume.
MR. MAISCH said he didn't know the actual acreage of the old
growth volume that is present on that 25,000 acres, but that
translates to an 8.5 million annual figure. He offered to get
accurate information for the committee.
5:00:53 PM
SENATOR STEDMAN said some would be more interested in old growth
selection rather than swamps.
MR. MAISCH replied that this land was through an area planning
process and so these lands were selected for their forestry
potential. They worked closely with the Division of Mining, Land
and Water to look at the total 49,000-acre package they have
that is identified as GU with forest management intent, and from
a forestry perspective, these lands are the most productive in
that 49,000 acres.
SENATOR FRENCH asked for an estimate of how many jobs would be
created with the opening of these lands.
MR. MAISCH said he could estimate, but the industry is growing
with the enhanced value added concept. He said the state timber
program has become more and more important to the remaining
mills that are left in Southeast. One large mill is left on
Prince of Wales Island and a bridge timber program has supplied
some of the critical volume to that mill to keep it open. Volume
is also provided to many small one and two person operations
that are scattered through Southeast Alaska, including Icy
Straits Lumber Corporation in Hoonah. It's hard to estimate the
number of jobs, but it is very important volume because of what
has happened to the federal timber sale program in Southeast.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how often a new state forest is
established.
MR. MAISCH answered it's not very frequent. There are only two
other Alaska state forests in existence - the Tanana Valley
State Forest, which is the largest at 1.8 million acres and the
Haines State Forest. This would be the third forest in that
system and would be the first one since the Tanana Valley State
Forest was authorized in the 1980s.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked how long he had been working on this
project.
MR. MAISCH answered for the better part of four years. He said
the federal program in Southeast is in dire straits, and they
have been working with the federal government to try and turn
that program around. "This is a very important comment to make,
in my opinion, to the communities and to the Forest Service that
the state supports long term management and this is the way to
do that by designating the state forest."
SENATOR HUGGINS said he supports what they are trying to do.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked what kind of public process they
went through and if they found any opposition to the bill.
MR. MAISCH answered that they had an extensive process; they met
internally and other agencies that would have potential interest
in them establishing a state forest. After that they did further
outreach to communities in the areas the state forest would be
around, they talked before the Tongass Futures Round Table
Organization, he presented twice to the Southeast Conference,
talked to local community councils, legislative bodies, and
environmental groups. By and large they have found strong
support for this bill.
Last year, Mr. Maisch said, concerns were expressed about two of
the parcels - one was Crittenden Creek and the other was on
Gravina Island - by some individuals who worried about their
location and the fact that they would be used for forest
management purposes. He provided a lengthy response that is in
the record. Briefly, it says the lands had been through an
extensive area planning process which included public meetings
in all these communities, a lot of public outreach, and these
lands were chosen to be set aside for GU purposes, but with a
forestry management intent. It continued that the City of
Wrangell may indeed select the Crittenden Creek parcel and that
would put that parcel in local control which means the local
community could decide what the best use of that particular
parcel might be.
5:07:26 PM
DICK COOSE, representing himself, Ketchikan, supported HB 162.
He said he is a retired forester and knows it will allow more
efficient multi use management of those state lands. The use of
the forest products that comes from these lands helps the local
economy and adds jobs. Alaska is now a leader in quality
effective and efficient management of forest lands; the more
lands that can be designated as state forest lands the better
off we are. The feds aren't managing their lands effectively.
5:08:57 PM
JACK SLAGHT, representing himself, Petersburg, Alaska, said he
supported HB 162 and believes that Southeast Alaska needs to
strive to rebuild a diversified economy. In the past 20 years a
relentless assault has remained on the forest products industry
by environmental groups that has reduced that industry to almost
nothing. Currently only fishing, processing and some tourism
exit in the Petersburg area. Thankfully some mining is still
being done. There will be increased competition for ocean
resources, and no one knows how future energy costs will affect
fishing and processing.
5:12:33 PM
OWEN GRAHAM, Alaska Forest Association, supported HB 162. He
said the division wants to make sure the money they invest in
these lands won't be lost and the trees will be allowed to grow
to maturity after thinning so that investment can be recouped
through timber sales in the future. He said this industry has
shrunk by 85 percent since 1990 and it is solely the result of
an inadequate supply of timber. The federal timber supply has
just disappeared, and the federal government controls more than
90 percent of the timber lands in Southeast Alaska. In contrast
the Division of Forestry has done a good job with its timber
sale program.
5:14:22 PM
MARK VINSEL, Executive Director, United Fishermen of Alaska
(UFA), said he is speaking as the seat designated for commercial
fishing on the Board of Forestry. He pointed out that the board
works on a consensus basis and there was no opposition to this
bill. He had not heard of any opposition from UFA members or
individual fishermen on this bill.
5:15:13 PM
RON WOLFE, Alaska Native Corporation representative to the Board
of Forestry, said he is also the Sea Alaska Corporation Natural
Resource Manager. He added his support to this legislation.
5:15:53 PM
WAYNE NICOLS, member, State Board of Forestry and the Society of
American Foresters, supported HB 162. He said he is also a
Certified Forester and is retired after working 37 years for the
Forest Service. There are several reasons for establishing a
state forest in this area and they have heard most of them. A
primary reason is to enable long term investment in forest land.
Effective forest management involves investments in terms of
creating access for harvest and for subsequent management
activities. Investments in good forest management are only
feasible and prudent with long term ownership provided by
dedication of forest land as in a designated state forest.
He said that timber management on the Tongass National Forest
has become very limited due to litigation and other factors.
While the state forest cannot begin to compensate entirely, it
can help offset it. As such, mature timber existing now can be
properly harvested soon contributing a wood supply for the
industry and creating jobs. As the harvested portions of the new
forest degenerate the young growth will be managed for optimum
or maximum quality and quantity to establish cultural treatment
of new stands and increase their value as the years pass.
MR. NICOLS said all state forests are managed by the Division of
Forestry successfully under the very effective State Forest
Resources and Practices Act. It provides an umbrella-like set of
regulations and best management practices to protect and enhance
other resources, most notably streams and water sheds. He said
this act is exemplary among at least 35 states that have similar
laws, and that most forest management enhances fish and wildlife
habitat.
He said that the Society of American Foresters is a unit of the
largest such organization in the world and is the only
professional forestry organization in the United State. By a
resolution first initiated by the Juneau Chapter, and
subsequently by unanimous conference the statewide organization
endorses establishes of the Southeast Forest. He hoped they
recognized the importance and wisdom to environmental and
economic benefit of all Alaskans of establishing a new state
forest in Southeast Alaska.
5:20:06 PM
MR. WOLFE responded to a question from Senator French about why
the purchaser didn't bear the cost by saying that would be
difficult simply because of the time period involved. Typically,
pre-commercial thinning is done 15-20 years following timber
harvest. So image factoring that funding into your bid. It is
not uncommon for the purchaser to be responsible for
reforestation, however in the kind of forest Southeast Alaska
has that is rarely a problem.
5:21:00 PM
MR. NICHOLS commented in regard to Senator Huggins' question
about how often state forests happen that he hoped they would
hear lots more about them in the future.
5:21:28 PM
JOHN SANDOR, representing himself, Juneau, supported HB 162. He
said he is a former regional forester and commissioner of the
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). He said the
state forest would be professionally managed in accordance with
the Alaska Forest Practices Act, and the DNR and the Forester
has an excellent record of managing Alaska's diverse ecosystems.
Since the closure of Southeast Alaska pulp mills in Ketchikan
and Sitka and with the ongoing political and legal challenges to
virtually every U.S. Forest Service road and timber sale in
Southeast Alaska, the integrated forest products industry of
Southeast Alaska that had generated more than 3500 jobs has been
eliminated - to the detriment of every Southeast community. To
this day any road timber sale cannot be proved locally, but has
to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture's office for
approval.
The establishment of the Alaska Southeast State Forest
authorized by HB 162 will help begin the process of restoring
professional forest management practices with multiple benefits
from timber recreation, wildlife, fisheries, and other uses,
resulting in economic and environmental and quality of life
benefits to Wrangell and other Southeast communities.
SENATOR WAGONER commented that the state of Utah has taken a
solid stance against the federal government. He asked what he
thought about having the state take over the federal lands in
the State of Alaska.
MR. SANDOR said he is very much in favor of that move. Over 90
percent of Southeast Alaska is managed by the federal government
and even though the Tongass plan authorizes up to 100 million
feet to be harvested, less than 25 million is harvested. It is a
fact that the 1890 and 1900 census of the State of Alaska
recorded more saw mills operating than today in Southeast
Alaska.
5:25:42 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI thanked everyone for their comments and
held HB 162 for further work. He adjourned the meeting at 5:25
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 245 - Bill Packet.pdf |
SRES 3/29/2010 3:30:00 PM |
SB 245 |
| SB 255 - Bill Packet.pdf |
SRES 3/29/2010 3:30:00 PM |
SB 255 |
| HB 162 - Bill Packet.pdf |
SRES 3/29/2010 3:30:00 PM |
HB 162 |
| GRETC - Joint Utility Task Force.pdf |
SRES 3/29/2010 3:30:00 PM |