AK HB98

Directs the Natural Resources Commissioner to consider economic benefits from local manufacture and processing of wood products, job creation, and other foreseeable economic benefits when evaluating timber sales under AS 38.05.

Increases threshold for harvests requiring site-specific forest land use plans from 10 acres to 20 acres and allows adoption of forest land use plans after awarding timber sale contracts rather than before.

Prohibits appeals of forest land use plan decisions to the Commissioner, removing reconsideration and appeal rights under AS 44.37.011.

Expands negotiated timber sales authority by increasing the threshold triggering public notice requirements from 500,000 board feet to amounts requiring notice only for sales greater than 500,000 board feet, and allows negotiated sales of timber for value-added wood products.

Permits assignment of emergency firefighting personnel to nonemergency activities including habitat restoration and hazard reduction, without requiring use of state general funds for these nonemergency activities.