April 9, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 9, 2018

Deadline extended for public comment on Haines timber sale

ANCHORAGE – University of Alaska Land Management announced Monday that the public comment period on a proposed timber sale near Haines will be extended until May 7. The 10-day extension follows ongoing discussions with the Haines community to give interested parties more time to learn about the project during a public open house on April 26 in Haines.

Last month, the university announced plans for a joint harvest of timber in partnership with the Alaska Division of Forestry and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Lands Office. The university’s harvest would be on 13,426 acres located at multiple sites within the Haines Borough, but would not include any acreage within the Mud Bay area. Maps and other information can be found at www.ualand.com

The university has been working with borough officials to better inform the public about the development of the timber sale, and will participate, along with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office in the open house hosted by the Alaska Division of Forestry. The open house is on Thursday April 26, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00p.m. in the Haines Chilkat Center for the Arts.

Interested parties must submit comments no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 7, 2018 via email at ua-land@alaska.edu or via mail to Facilities and Land Management, 1815 Bragaw St., Suite 101, Anchorage, Alaska 99508.

The university owns approximately 151,000 acres of land throughout the state, with 139,000 acres designated for investment, and plans to enter into a 10-year negotiated sale of the Haines timber with an identified buyer. UA Land Management estimates the combined Alaska Division of Forestry and university timber sale could bring in as much as $15 million over the 10-year period. Revenue from resource development finances scholarships for Alaska’s top high school graduates to attend the university. To date, more than 9,000 scholarships have been provided to Alaskans from around Alaska.

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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate VP/ public affairs, 907-786-1190 or Robbie.graham@alaska.edu

NR6-18