Monday night the Economic Development Committee discussed in length what comments they would like the city to submit to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) regarding a multi-year timber harvest project on Wrangell Island.
Public comments on the project can be submitted to the USFS through April 26. They will be used to help the agency create a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the project, which the USFS has proposed could include the harvest of timber from up to 6,500 acres of forested land within the roaded land base of Wrangell Island.
Borough Mayor Jeremy Maxand drafted a letter to the USFS on the project, which the Economic Development Committee decided to pass on to the Borough Assembly for consideration of submitting it to the Forest Service.
In the letter, Maxand stresses the city’s desire for the Wrangell Island project to create long-term and timber-based local jobs. This should also be the focus of any timber sale on Wrangell Island, the letter states.
The Economic Development Committee approved the letter, with the addition of a comment of its desires for the project to maximize long-term timber supplies.
Maxand’s letter will be considered by the Assembly at its April 24 meeting.
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