The state’s Division of Forestry is asking for the public’s opinion on requirements it intends to impose on bidders who want to harvest timber from a sale in the Haines State Forest.
The sale and harvest has already been approved; the draft plan covers 137 acres in two of 10 units that will be sold near the Canadian border west of Klukwan.
The plan asks harvesters to retain standing timber in groups and selected trees in and around clear-cut areas.
Previous public comments had asked the state to avoid outright clearcutting the sale areas, and the state has made that a requirement for bidders.
Also required are protections for area streams (none in the area contain salmon) and local wildlife.
Copies of the plan are available at http://forestry.alaska.gov/timber/haines and comments may be submitted by Jan. 5 to forester Greg Palmieri at greg.palmieri@alaska.gov.
