Comments are being accepted on the application of the Roadless Rule in Alaska through December 17, 2019 on the internet at www.regulations.gov (RIN 0596-AD37) or through the project website .
Background: The Tongass was initially exempted from the 2001 National Roadless Rule for US National Forests. In 2011, a lawsuit extended the roadless protections to the Tongass. In 2018, the Governor of Alaska submitted a petition for an exemption from the roadless rule. The Forest Service (FS) has developed and analyzed 6 management alternatives that range from Alternative 1 – status quo—the only alternative that keeps the roadless rule in place--to Alternative 6--full exemption from the roadless rule on the Tongass National Forest-- and some variations between the two, none of which are meaningful in terms of protecting fish habitat. The FS has picked Alternative 6 as their preliminary preferred alternative.
The Forest Service has clarified that regardless of the outcome of this rulemaking, ANILCA and the Tongass Timber Reform Act (TTRA) as well as the current 2016 Tongass National Forest Plan will remain in effect. The TTRA is the legislation that requires stream buffers; that said, many stream buffers have proved to be inadequate, with significant loss of buffer trees during windstorms, and failed culverts currently block salmon from accessing 250 miles of historic spawning habitat. Alternative 6, the FS preferred alternative, exempts 9.2 million inventoried roadless acres from the roadless rule. This would allow the FS access to the 185,000 acres of high value timber watersheds in southern Southeast Alaska. Most of this high value timber is on Prince of Wales Island, which produces 60% of Southeast pink salmon and 72% of Southeast cohos.
One argument cited by Alaska’s delegation for eliminating the roadless rule is that the rule impedes locally important non-timber projects, such as hydro/dam construction. Notably, even with the Roadless Rule (status quo) in place, all individual project exemptions (e.g., hydropower, hatchery access, etc.) applied for were granted.
STATE OF ALASKA PETITON
ALASKA ROADLESS RULE FS PROJECT WEBSITE
PROPOSED RULE
ALASKA ROADLESS RULE STORY MAP/INTERACTIVE MAP allows a visual comparison of the alternatives
TONGASS TIMBER REFORM ACT - The legislation was aimed at safeguarding clean water and riparian habitats, protecting the old-growth of the Tongass National Forest
For additional information on the economic value of the forest, rivers and estuaries for non-timber uses, please visit the SeaBank program on the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust website http://www.thealaskatrust.org/seabank-annual-report-web.
A video short and the SeaBank annual report contain a wealth of Tongass information to assist you with evaluating alternatives and drafting comments.
Please share your comments with ALFA, the Alaska congressional delegation, and the Governor.