Legislature(2009 - 2010)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/06/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB162 | |
| SB208 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| HB 162 | |||
| + | SB 208 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 230 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 162
"An Act establishing the Southeast State Forest and
relating to the Southeast State Forest; and providing
for an effective date."
CHRIS MAISCH, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES, addressed the Senate Committee
Substitute for HB 162, which establishes the Southeast
State Forest. He said he would go through a sectional
analysis of the bill.
9:11:34 AM
Co-Chair Stedman suggested explaining the bill so the
people listening at home could understand it. Mr. Maisch
agreed to do so.
Mr. Maisch read the sectional analysis:
This bill would establish a new Southeast State Forest
(SESF). The SESF 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.
Section 1 - Southeast State Forest
Legal descriptions. Section 1, subsections (a) and (d)
provide legal descriptions for the lands to be
designated as the Southeast State Forest (SESF).
Designated lands include 20 parcels totaling
approximately 25,291 acres (see chart) on Prince of
Wales, Tuxekan, Kosciusko, Heceta, 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
land, 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.
Management plan and transportation corridor.
Subsection (b) 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. State
Forest management plans must consider and permit
multiple uses, include recreation and tourism, mining,
use of fish and wildlife, and other traditional uses,
unless the Commissioner issues a site-specific written
finding that a use in incompatible with one or more
other uses. Public, interagency, and Board of Forestry
review is required prior to adoption of a State Forest
management plan. As in other state forests, Subsection
(c) states that the DNR Commissioner may also
establish transportation corridors within the State
Forest.
Municipal entitlements. Subsection (e) clarifies the
relationship of the Southeast State Forest to current
and potential municipal entitlements. State Forests
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, unreserved (VUU) 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.
The SESF is designed to have no impact on Wrangell
Borough land selections. The amount of land that
Wrangell Borough may select is already fixed by its
date of incorporation, and this bill specifies that
the Wrangell Borough may select State Forest land
within the borough boundary. Three parcels in the SESF
are within the Wrangell Borough boundary.
If new municipalities are incorporated before June 30,
2019, the SESF will not affect the amount of land that
they can select. The bill specifies that State Forest
lands that were VUU land before establishment of the
State Forest will be included in the calculation of
the entitlement acreage. However, parcels in the SESF
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.
Section 2. Regulations. This section authorizes DNR to
immediately adopt regulations to implement the bill.
Section 3. Effective date for regulations. Under
Section 3 the authority to adopt regulations (Section
2) takes effect immediately.
Section 4. Effective date for State Forest. Section 4
provides for an effective date of July 1, 2008.
9:16:20 AM
Mr. Maisch explained the process of developing the
legislation. It is a project that has been in the works for
about four years. There has been extensive public
involvement.
Mr. Maisch related that he has spoken at two Southeast
Conference annual meetings about the legislation, and
Southeast Conference has submitted a letter of support. He
also reported speaking to Tongass Futures on numerous
occasions.
Mr. Maisch pointed out that the Board of Forestry has
discussed the legislation. The Board is comprised of eight
members who represent Alaska Native corporations, forest
industry trade associations, non-governmental
organizations, a professional forester, a professional fish
and wildlife biologist, a mining organization, a commercial
fish organization, a recreation seat, and an environmental
organization. He referred to a letter of support from the
Board. He also listed letters of support from the Resource
Development Council, the Society of American Foresters, the
City of Wrangell, Community of Coffman Cove, and the Alaska
Forest Association.
Mr. Maisch said the department has discussed the proposal
in numerous forums throughout the state.
9:18:29 AM
Senator Thomas asked if the RS 2477 trails are preserved.
Mr. Maisch reported that they were. Access will be
maintained.
Senator Olson inquired about an additional selection by the
Wrangell Borough. Mr. Maisch reported on negotiations with
Wrangell through the Division of Mining, Land, and Water
which led to a compromise on the parcels selected. He noted
a parcel near Wrangell that the borough will select as a
part of their entitlement selection.
Senator Olson asked if Wrangell was in favor of the bill.
Mr. Maisch reported a letter of support from Wrangell.
9:20:34 AM
Co-Chair Stedman noted one zero fiscal note by the
Department of Natural Resources.
Co-Chair Stedman asked if there was any opposition to the
bill. Mr. Maisch addressed parcels that were opposed; SEACC
did not want to see two parcels on Gravina Island used for
forest management purposes, and there was opposition to
Crittenden Creek. He said the two parcels were already
owned by the state and had been through an area planning
process in Southeast Alaska. There were extensive public
meetings and the lands were established as general use
lands in the area plan with intent to use them for forest
management.
9:22:16 AM
ERIN MCLARNON, BOARD OF FORESTRY, WILLOW (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of the bill. She emphasized
that not only will the new state forest provide long-term
forest management, it will also provide recreational
activities. As a representative of the Willow Dog Mushers
Association, she appreciated the more accessible trails.
She shared her personal story and listed reasons why she
supports the creation of state forests. She stressed the
importance of the jobs the new state forest would provide.
9:24:38 AM
CARL PORTMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
(via teleconference), testified in support of HB 162. He
stated that with the establishment of a new state forest in
Southeast Alaska, the Division of Forestry would be able to
manage state lands for a long-term supply of timber to
local processors and retain the land in state ownership for
multiple use. The forest would be managed as part of the
state forest system.
9:26:28 AM
DICK COOSE, RETIRED FORESTER, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of HB 162. He stated that a
Southeast Forest would maintain some semblance of a forest
industry while practicing multiple-use management on state
lands. He suggested obtaining additional acreage from the
Tongass National Forest and designating it as state forest
in order to build back what has been lost.
9:28:17 AM
HB 162 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| RDC Support of HB 162.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB 162 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB162SSE State Forest Briefing 1-24-10.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB0162A.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB162 SSE State Forest Map Packet 2-27-09.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB162 SAF State Chapter Support Letter.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| HB162 AFA Support Letter 2010.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |
| AG briefing.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 208 |
| SB 208 Sponsor Statement.doc |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 208 |
| Cook Inlet Supply and Demand.pub |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 208 |
| Cook Inlet Forecast Chart (exerpt).pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
SB 208 |
| HB 162 Letters of support.pdf |
SFIN 4/6/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 162 |