State of Alaska

Department of Natural Resources

Division of Forestry

Southern Southeast Area Office

Final Written Finding under AS 38.05.035(e)

The Alaska Department of NaturalResources, Division of Forestry, gives formal notice under 11 AAC 02 (Appeals)that the Division has made a Final decision under AS 38.05.035(e) regarding thesale of the following commercial timber: Vallenar Bay Timber Sale (SSE-1345 K).

The Director of the Division ofForestry has made a written final decision that the sale(s) are in the bestinterest of the State.  This decision setsout the facts and applicable policies upon which the Director based hisdetermination that the proposed timber sales will serve the interest of theState.  The final decision is recorded inthe official file as of May 4, 2015. Copies of the Final Best Interest Findingare available for review at the division’s Area Office, the division’s web siteand at the State On-line Public Notice Page

The project area is on the north end of Gravina Island.Vallenar Bay is approximately five miles west of the Ketchikan InternationalAirport and is viewable on USGS quadrangle Ketchikan B-6. The project areaoccupies State and Ketchikan Gateway Borough land in Sections 5, 6 and 8 ofT75S, R90E; Sections 35 and 36 of T74S, R89 E; Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14,23 and 24 of T75S, R89E all within Copper River Meridian (CRM). The volume tobe offered totals approximately 12 million board feet (MMBF). The projectproposes to establish access to the Vallenar Bay area from the existing roadsystem on Gravina Island by constructing a forest road from the Lewis Reef areato the existing logging road on the southeast side of Vallenar Bay. Dependingon market conditions, the DOF would sell the timber as one individual sale,several smaller sales or combined with other timber in the area. The sale(s)will be sold under the authority of AS 38.05.120 (competitive sale) or underAS38.05.115, AS 38.05.118 or AS 38.05.123 (negotiated sales). The sales will benoticed as required by sale type authority and AS 38.05.945 prior to beingsold.

A person affected by thisdecision who provided timely written comment or public hearing testimony onthis decision may appeal it, in accordance with 11 AAC 02. Any appeal must bereceived by May 27, 2015 and may bemailed or delivered to Mark Meyers, Commissioner, Department of NaturalResources, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska 99501; faxed to1-907-269-8918, or sent by electronic mailto:dnr.appeals@alaska.gov. If noappeal is filed by that date, this decision goes into effect as a final orderand decision on May 27, 2015. Aneligible person must first appeal this decision in accordance with 11 AAC 02before appealing this decision to Superior Court.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alaska Division of Forestry                             Contact:  Greg Staunton

2417 Tongass Avenue, Suite 213                     Phone:    225-3070

Ketchikan, AK  99901                                      Fax:        247-3070

                                                                          Email:     dnr.vallenar.bay@alaska.gov