Testimony before the House Resources Committee
February 19, 1998

        The Alaska Forest Association desires to be on record in full support of House Bill 373, "An Act relating to forests and forestry practices." This bill is the direct result of a proposal set before the Alaska Board of Forestry after a collaborative process involving the timber industry, the fishing industry and the resource agencies of the state. Both the process and the substance of this effort were based upon sound science and a balancing of interests.
        Alaska already has a very effective, science-based forest practices law which ensures protection of important fisheries habitat while recognizing the unique relationship between private land rights and related public resources. The current law, which was developed through a cooperative process in 1989 and 1990, involves the Division of Forestry, the Division of Habitat and Restoration, and the Division of Air and Water Quality in monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the law. It enables timber operators in Alaska who conduct their harvest activities according to best management practices to have the assurance that they are operating in compliance with a variety of laws under which they would otherwise be individually scrutinized. That alternative would cost both the industry and the state more time and money than is necessary under the current system.
        Current law also provides for ongoing examination of the effectiveness of Alaska’s forest practices standards, so that the law and regulations can be adjusted to reflect new scientific knowledge as it is developed. Over the past two years, the timber industry has participated in a thorough review of the science relating to logging along anadromous fish streams in the coastal forests of Alaska. This review was conducted under the rubric of the Science and Technical Committee appointed by the Board of Forestry with the support of Governor Knowles . The Committee’s report and the subsequent stakeholders’ meeting led to the introduction of House Bill 373.
        It is important to note that the Science & Technical Committee did not specifically recommend 66 foot buffers on type B streams as provided in Section 1 of the bill. The committee recommended that these streams be given some means of obtaining large woody debris. AFA member companies looked at the operational issues and concluded that buffers of 66 feet or to the slope break would satisfy the goals of the recommendation in a way that field personnel believe can be implemented without severe adverse affects on harvest economics. It does mean surrendering trees of value by leaving them in riparian buffers, but the standard can be applied in the field and can be readily monitored by the regulators. AFA believes this is a good solution, the effects of which can be evaluated over time.
        A matter of great importance to AFA is the fact that House Bill 373 is the result of a collaborative process. The agreement that makes these changes in the Act possible depends upon the substance of the bill remaining as it is now. The amendments proposed by the Attorney General’s office, which are before the committee today, only provide consistency and clarification and are therefore acceptable. AFA would urge the committee not to entertain any other amendments so that the underlying agreement between affected parties can remain intact.
        In summary, House Bill 373 addresses a real need, and represents a balanced approach to resolving an important issue affecting Alaska’s forest products sector. When this bill becomes law, it will be a model for broad-based cooperation between affected industries, the agencies, the Governor’s office and the legislature. This is a bill that can and should enjoy full, bi-partisan support. I urge its speedy passage.