02/03/2026 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

               SB 188-TANANA VALLEY STATE FOREST                                                                            
4:53:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE BILL  NO.  188  "An Act  expanding  the                                                               
Tanana  Valley  State  Forest; and  providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
4:53:43 PM                                                                                                                    
JEREMY  DOUSE,  State  Forester  and  Director,  Alaska  Division                                                               
Forestry  and Fire  Protection, Department  of Natural  Resources                                                               
(DNR),  Fairbanks, Alaska,  introduced SB  188 on  behalf of  the                                                               
sponsor  and  stated that  the  bill  proposes expansion  of  the                                                               
Tanana Valley State Forest (TVSF).                                                                                              
4:54:01 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  DOUSE moved  to slide  2,  Tanana Valley  State Forest,  and                                                               
stated  that  state forests  are  designated  by the  legislature                                                               
under  AS 41.17.200  for timber  management while  allowing other                                                               
beneficial  uses.  He  said  the   Tanana  Valley  State  Forest,                                                               
established  in  1983, is  one  of  three  state forests  and  is                                                               
managed under  AS 41.17.  TVSF has  a wildlife  habitat objective                                                               
under   AS   41.17.400,   requiring  coordination   with   Alaska                                                               
Department of  Fish and  Game (ADF&G)  to protect  habitat during                                                               
timber  management. He  said that  a Citizens  Advisory Committee                                                               
helps guide  management, and the forest  supports activities such                                                               
as  mining, material  sites, recreation,  hunting, trapping,  and                                                               
snowmachining.                                                                                                                  
4:55:35 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. DOUSE moved to slide  3, Expanding Tanana Valley State Forest                                                               
(TVSF),  and stated  that  SB 188  proposes  expanding the  state                                                               
forest  by about  600,000  acres. The  map  shows existing  state                                                               
forests in  green and the  proposed additions in yellow.  He said                                                               
some  of   these  areas  are  already   being  actively  managed,                                                               
including  current timber  sales and  infrastructure development.                                                               
All proposed  lands are designated  for forestry in the  DNR area                                                               
plan, which also recommends adding them to the state forest.                                                                    
4:56:37 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. DOUSE  moved to slide 4,  Why Increase TVSF, and  stated that                                                               
the  division  is  actively  managing  some  of  these  areas  by                                                               
building  roads,  planting,   and  developing  infrastructure  to                                                               
support future timber crops. These  productive sites ensure long-                                                               
term timber availability  and signal to the  industry that future                                                               
timber sale opportunities exist for business growth.                                                                            
4:57:26 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. DOUSE moved  to slide 5, State Forest  Expansion Process, and                                                               
stated that  foresters identified  these areas as  productive for                                                               
forestry  using remote  sensing and  soil data.  During DNR  area                                                               
plan updates, the division recommends  designating such sites for                                                               
forestry, as  done in  the Eastern  Tanana and  Yukon-Tanana area                                                               
plans. Through the area plan  process, the division can recommend                                                               
adding lands to the State  Foresttypically  adjacent or connected                                                               
areas  for  best land  use.  After  a public  process,  including                                                               
notices and  hearings in Tanana  Valley communities,  feedback is                                                               
considered. He  said if supported, the  administration prepares a                                                               
legislative  proposal with  public testimony,  preliminary forest                                                               
inventory  (from  2014),  and  a   Forest  Management  Plan.  Any                                                               
additions  would require  only  a focused  update  to the  nearly                                                               
completed plan.                                                                                                                 
5:00:25 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  DOUSE moved  to slide  6, Plan  Recommendations, and  stated                                                               
that the areas on the map  were recommended in the Eastern Tanana                                                               
and  Yukon-Tanana  area  plans,  as  well  as  the  State  Forest                                                               
Management Plan, each through separate public processes.                                                                        
5:00:47 PM                                                                                                                    
MR.  DOUSE moved  to slide  7,  Public Comment,  and stated  that                                                               
public meetings  were held  May 528   in Fairbanks,  Antioch, and                                                               
Delta  Junction,  plus two  virtual  sessions.  He said  overall,                                                               
there was  general support for  expanding the state  forest, with                                                               
most questions focused on technical  issues like local vs. export                                                               
markets, carbon projects, and land management processes.                                                                        
5:01:56 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. DOUSE  moved to slide 8,  Non-Timber use of TVSF,  and stated                                                               
that  non-timber  uses, like  recreation,  in  the Tanana  Valley                                                               
State Forest  are common. He  said various  organizations provide                                                               
programs  in   the  state  forest,  and   TVSF  remains  publicly                                                               
accessible.                                                                                                                     
5:02:55 PM                                                                                                                    
BRENT  GOODRUM,   Deputy  Commissioner,  Department   of  Natural                                                               
Resources, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified by invitation  on SB 188                                                               
and stated  that he is in  favor of increased use  of the forests                                                               
and management of  the resources. He said that  the state forests                                                               
provide access,  recreational opportunities, and  easier resource                                                               
care. Adding these lands to the state forest ensures future                                                                     
investment and better management.                                                                                               
5:03:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 188 in committee.