The Department of Natural Resources proposes to change regulations on wildland fire prevention and enforcement.

The Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry proposes to adopt regulation changes in the Natural Resources chapter of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with wildland fire prevention and enforcement, including the following:

11 AAC 95.400 - .495 are proposed to be changed as follows: The wildland fire regulations are rewritten to comply with the updated wildland fire prevention and enforcement statutes (AS 41.15) adopted in 2018. These regulation changes provide detail for a new tiered prevention and enforcement structure. Requirements for burn permits, which describe how to burn safely and when burning is allowed, are set out. Methods of public notice of burn restrictions are detailed. Descriptions of when different types of burning devices may be used and inspected during fire season are also included.

The Department of Natural Resources does not anticipate additional costs from these regulations changes. While the regulations set up a structure for charging fines for offenses, fines are not expected to generate a meaningful amount of additional revenue. The purpose of the new regulations is to create a more efficient fire prevention program, reducing the number of wildland fires and saving fire suppression costs.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Alison Arians, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, at 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1450,
Anchorage, AK 99501-3566. Additionally, the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry will accept comments by electronic mail at alison.arians@alaska.gov. The comments must be received not later than 4:30pm on February 27, 2019.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Alison Arians, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry by email at alison.arians@alaska.gov or at 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1450, Anchorage, AK 99501-3566. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Natural Resources will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and the Division of Forestry’s website, at http://forestry.alaska.gov/whatsnew.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Alison Arians at alison.arians@alaska.gov  or (907) 269-8467 not later than February 13, 2019, to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available as an attachment to this public notice, on the Division of Forestry’s website, at http://forestry.alaska.gov/whatsnew, and by contacting Alison Arians at alison.arians@alaska.gov  or (907) 269-8467. Additional regulation notice information is also attached below. 

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Natural Resources will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected. Written comments received are public records and are subject to public inspection.

Statutory authority: AS 41.15; AS 41.17.020; AS 41.17.080

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 41.15.020; AS 41.15.040; AS 41.15.050; AS 41.15.060; AS 41.15.070; AS 41.15.090; AS 41.15.950

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Natural Resources keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the Department notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the DNR Commissioner's Office by email to marykay.ryckman@alaska.gov, or by mail to DNR Commissioner’s Office, 550 W. 7th Avenue, Ste 1400, Anchorage, AK 99501, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.