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
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