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Snider also asserts the road has destroyed wetlands and that erosion control is inadequate. In fact, the Bostwick Road complies with the extensive mandatory best-management practices in the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act and other regulations. While all roads make some changes to the landscape, the act was specifically designed to protect water quality and fish habitat during forestry operations. The act and other regulations focus on standards for logging road design, construction, maintenance and closure. The Bostwick Road was designed to avoid wetlands wherever possible for both environmental and economic reasons. State foresters have been on site since the start of road construction to ensure the road complies with the act. If Snider has specific concerns, we encourage her to contact the Division of Forestry directly, so that we can evaluate and address any problems promptly.

Lastly, Snider said the state did not acquire permits for the road. State logging roads, however, typically do not require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, provided they comply with basic best-management practices established in regulations by the corps. As noted above, this road complies with all Alaska Forest Resources & Practices Act best-management practices, and those practices meet or exceed the standards set by the corps. Therefore, a corps permit was not necessary.

Martha Freeman

Forest resources program manager,

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry

Anchorage