State of Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry
Southern Southeast Area Office

Revised Final Written Finding under AS 38.05.035(e)

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

The Regional Forester of the Division of Forestry has made a revised written final decision that the sale(s) are in the best interest of the State.  This decision sets out the facts and applicable policies upon which the Regional Forester based his determination that the proposed timber sales will serve the interest of the State.  The revised final decision is recorded in the official file on October 25, 2017. This document is the final, Revised Best Interest Finding for the Vallenar Bay Timber Sale. It incorporates material required by a partial remand of the original May 4, 2015 decision to ensure that the revised decision reflects the Southeast State Forest Management Plan, Southern Southeast Timber Inventory, and the updated annual allowable cut.  A person affected by the final decision who provided timely written comment or public hearing testimony on the preliminary decision may appeal these changes in the revised BIF as described in Section IX, Explanation of Changes in BIF Made Pursuant to Remand, in accordance with 11 AAC 02.  Other sections of the decision were affirmed by the Commissioner on February 26, 2016 in response to a prior appeal and are not to subject to appeal now.

Copies of the Revised Final Best Interest Finding are available for review at the Area Office in Ketchikan, the Ketchikan, Craig, Wrangell and Petersburg libraries, the Division of Forestry’s web site, and at the State On-line Public Notice web site at https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=187544.

The project area is on the north end of Gravina Island. Vallenar Bay is approximately five miles west of the Ketchikan International Airport and is viewable on USGS quadrangle Ketchikan B-6. The project area occupies State and Ketchikan Gateway Borough land in Sections 5, 6 and 8 of T75S, 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 to be offered totals approximately 12 million board feet (MMBF). The timber sale area is connected to the existing road system on Gravina Island by a new forest road from the Lewis Reef area to the old existing logging road on the southeast side of Vallenar Bay. Depending on 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 under AS38.05.115, AS 38.05.118 or AS 38.05.123 (negotiated sales). The sales will be noticed as required by sale type authority and AS 38.05.945 prior to being sold.

A person affected by this decision who provided timely written comment or public hearing testimony on this decision may appeal it, in accordance with 11 AAC 02. Any appeal must be received by November 14, 2017 and may be mailed or delivered to Andrew Mack, Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 1400, Anchorage, Alaska 99501; faxed to 1-907-269-8918, or sent by electronic mail to:  dnr.appeals@alaska.gov. If no appeal is filed by that date, this decision goes into effect as a final order and decision on November 27, 2017. An eligible person must first appeal this decision in accordance with 11 AAC 02 before 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:              greg.staunton@alaska.gov

The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids, services, or special modifications to participate in this review may contact the number above.