Petersville timber sale to go forward

March 24, 2006

DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman reporter

ANCHORAGE - Despite numerous appeals from Trapper Creek and Petersville residents, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Michael L. Menge confirmed his earlier decision Wednesday to move forward with a 1,286-acre timber sale off West Petersville Road.

Menge's final finding stated that the original sale is in the best interest of the state, and he authorized the Department of Forestry to proceed as planned this spring, meaning the harvest will likely take place in the winter of 2006-07.

&#8220My decision is based on a foundation of a very thorough and public process of land-use planning over many years and is what is best for the state,” Menge said. &#8220The process followed, as documented in the Susitna Area Plan, the Susitna Forestry Guidelines make it clear that this timber sale is an appropriate and beneficial use of this land.”

The decision comes after spending two months considering the appeals submitted and allows for the timber sale near a popular fishing stream.

State forest officials reviewed comments from opponents of the sale of pockets of land in Petersville near Kroto Creek before giving the go-ahead for the state's largest timber offering in the Mat-Su Borough in nearly two decades.

Opponents of the planned sale include residents and environmental and tourism industry groups.

Many have said logging could open up the area to four-wheelers that could damage salmon and trout streams. Some also questioned whether logging would harm local tourism businesses such as sled-dog tours and flightseeing operations.

Some opponents, like Trapper Creek resident Richard Leo, indicated that the fight to prevent what they say is a clear cutting of the land, is not over, despite plans from the Department of Forestry to move forward with the bid process of the sale.

&#8220I know that this isn't the end,” Leo said.

&#8220I know that there will be a lawsuit seeking an injunction to halt the sale. I'm just not sure right now who will bring it forward and who will be represented.”

Opponents have until April 21 to appeal the decision in Superior Court.

&#8220Unless we get an injunction, we can proceed with the timber sale process,” state forester Rick Jandreau said. &#8220We plan to move forward by taking out ads to attract potential bidders for the timber sale on land with an estimated value of $75,000.”

Leo, who lives on Petersville Road, went on to question the logic of the whole deal.

&#8220It just doesn't make sense economically or environmentally,” Leo said. &#8220The state says they will not lose money from the sale of the timber, but they already have with the administrative costs incurred so far.

&#8220Environmentally it is a disaster,” Leo continued. &#8220The state is working off of 20-year-old data regarding forest recovery. We have a study from the University of Fairbanks showing the local water table is on the decline that they aren't considering and will have a dramatic effect of the growth of new trees.”

Jandreau said the sole bidder on the sale is NPI LLC, a Mat-Su-based subsidiary of an Oklahoma company that exports wood chips from Port MacKenzie.

The company is the driving force behind the increased demand for timber in the Susitna Valley.

&#8220The chances are that there won't be another bidder,” Jandreau said.

&#8220But when the bid opens Tuesday, anyone who desires can participate.”

Jandreau added that any buyer who wished to purchase the land solely for conservation purposes would be violating the contract with the state.

&#8220That's our intention, to harvest the timber,” Jandreau said.

&#8220If someone would sit on it, they would be in breach of the contract.”

Officials said they made several minor changes to the initial proposed sale after reviewing the appeals to answer concerns, including shrinking the size of the sale by more than 300 acres from the original 1,600-acre proposal.

They also are requiring construction of ditches and berms intended to block four-wheelers from logged areas, and are limiting large transport trucks from running on weekends and during school bus runs.

Trees will be felled only during two to three months in the winter to avoid disrupting tourist traffic.

&#8220Thanks to the concerns and comments from the appellants and everyone who commented on this sale, we have modified the terms of this sale to make sure any operation that results from it will be a good steward of the land, a good neighbor to area residents, and an attractive prospect for private business,” Menge said.

Supporters of the Petersville sale include the Alaska Moose Federation, Alaska Forest Association Inc. and the Resource Development Council, which argue the harvest will create jobs and improve moose habitat by opening up the forest.

They have said that buffers and other protections mandated by the state will protect wildlife and fish populations.

According to Menge, there will be a large forested area left behind even after the harvest.

&#8220The sale area encompasses 5,883 acres, of which 4,021 acres, or 68 percent, are forested,” Menge explained. &#8220Only 1,286 acres, or 32 percent of the forested land, is proposed for harvest, leaving 2,735 acres or 68 percent of the forest land remaining for recreation, wildlife and other forest uses.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.