The Haines Borough Assembly approved a letter to the University of Alaska requesting information on its development plan for a proposed timber harvest of 150 million board feet from more than 13,000 acres—the bulk of the University’s holdings in the borough.
The harvest period would last at least 10 years and would also occur on Mental Health Trust and Division of Forestry lands, according to the University.
“Our most immediate request is to call for more information specific to the development plan. We would also like to be recognized as stakeholders with a seat at the table,” wrote borough manager Debra Schnabel.
The letter also questions the sustainability of harvesting the volume proposed. “The annual allowable cut in the Haines State Forest is 5.88 million board feet. Forested lands owned by the University and Mental Health were removed from the Haines State Forest timber base in 2002, so relevant data is not available to us now. However, simple arithmetic indicates that 9.12 million board feet (55% more than is allowable in HSF) would be provided by the University and Mental Health resources to meet the target volume.”
The letter also asks the University to detail how it plans to provide training, new jobs and capital projects in the borough and encourages it “to set aside sales for local entrepreneurs and incentives and investment for local processing of wood product.”
Schnabel initially wrote that the biomass in the Haines State Forest is moderate to poor and that projected revenues would be insignificant, although she agreed to remove that from the letter after borough assembly member Brenda Josephson questioned the claim’s veracity.
Josephson also disputed the comparison of the Haines State Forest timber management plan to potential University and Mental Health development plans. “University and Mental Health lands are not public lands,” Josephson said. “They are held in trust with a mandate to maximize revenue and they are not managed for multiple use like the Haines State Forest.”
Assembly member Sean Maidy said he didn’t think the letter was necessary because the University recently extended the public comment period for the sale to May 7—a request the assembly communicated at a special meeting last week.
“I don’t think we should be sending a letter that’s changed around, that’s taking a solid stance on anything,” Maidy said. “We are not in a position to be telling them what they can do.”
Assembly member Tom Morphet said the letter doesn’t make demands, but rather addresses concerns. “It doesn’t really tell them what we’re going to do or how we’re going to respond,” Morphet said. “It says these are some of our immediate concerns.”
Mayor Jan Hill said she was ambivalent about the letter, but believes the University is willing to work with the borough. “Every single phone call I’ve had from them and with them they’ve expressed that,” Hill said. “I see no harm in sending the letter that gives some specifics for them to come prepared to address.”
During public comment, Haines Chamber of Commerce Director Tracey Harmon read a letter on behalf of its board of directors that encouraged the assembly to work with the University to allow the sale to move forward. “This current assembly has created an uncertain environment for businesses in this community and for entities who wish to do business in this community.”
The letter encouraged the assembly to “work with code” and not create an adversarial relationship with the University.
Sylvia Heinz asked the borough to advocate for small-scale sales to benefit the local timber industry. Heinz also supported advocating for job training so more young people can work in the local timber industry.
Carol Tuynman also asked the assembly to advocate for the local timber industry. She asked the assembly to “be the kind of leaders we need to bring us all together because even the people who are advocating for the clearcut, I think they have very good intentions.”
Paul Nelson asked the assembly to cooperate with the University and the timber sale.
Joanna Goener suggested the assembly discuss implementing “carbon credits” with the University and discourage clear cutting.
The comments come after a special meeting last week where more than 40 residents filled the assembly chambers to provide comment to the assembly.
The proposed sale is on private land in a general use zone where commercial logging is an allowable use.
Representatives from the University did respond to requests for comment by press time.