HB 162 Summary

• Establishes the Southeast State Forest comprising state-owned or acquired land and water in 22 specifically described parcels located in the Copper River Meridian region of Southeast Alaska.

• Requires the commissioner to prepare a management plan for the Southeast State Forest under existing forestry management procedures in AS 41.17.230.

• Authorizes the commissioner to establish transportation corridors within the Southeast State Forest.

• Preserves the City and Borough of Wrangell's land selection rights under existing law, and prevents newly incorporated municipalities (before June 30, 2019) from selecting forest lands but allows those lands to count toward their municipal entitlement acreage.

• Takes effect July 1, 2010, with the Department of Natural Resources authorized to immediately adopt necessary implementing regulations.