February 9, 1998

Contact:

Jack E. Phelps, Executive Director
(907) 225-6114 or (907) 723-5040


Statement of Support Senate Bill 180

The Alaska Forest Association supports Senate Bill 180. The Association anticipates that the current federal administration’s policies pertaining to state’s rights under R.S. 2477 will not change in the near future. For this reason Senate Bill 180 is a timely and necessary step in the preservation of Alaska’s R.S. 2477 rights-of-way.

The R.S. 2477 rights-of-way listed within Senate Bill 180 are already asserted and deemed supportable by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Senate Bill 180 will provide affected land owners and the general public clear notification that these R.S. 2477 rights-of-way are open and available for their use. It also sends a clear message that Alaskans will not sit idly by while their rights-of-way are stolen.

Senate Bill 180 is a well crafted piece of legislation which specifically identifies each asserted right-of-way within Alaska and requires the state to take vigorous action in pursuit of these lands. The addition of AS 19.30.410 is an important provision to the bill which sets clear parameters for agency actions relinquishing R.S. 2477 assertions.

The Alaska Forest Association recognizes that land access, via rights-of-way, is critically important to future success of resource development projects throughout the state. The Alaska Forest Association supports responsible resource development and Senate Bill 180 which solidifies land access rights given to Alaska many years ago. The Alaska Forest Association urges the legislature’s swift and full support of this important legislation. Thank you for introducing this legislation, and for the opportunity to testify in its support.

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