Department of Natural Resources 

Division of Forestry and Fire Protection 

Kenai-Kodiak Area Office

Preliminary Written Finding under AS 38.05.035 and AS 38.05.945 

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (DOF), gives formal  notice under AS 38.05.945 (a)(3) that the Division has made Preliminary Decisions under AS 38.05.035(e)  regarding the Nash Road Sale (SC-3265K).  

Before the sale may be held, the Director of the DOF must make a written Final Decision that each sale  best serves the interest of the State. These Decisions will lay out the facts and applicable policies upon  which the Director bases his determination that the proposed timber sales will or will not best serve the  interest of the State. The Final Decisions are expected to be available to the public after April 27, 2026. 

The public is invited to comment on any aspect of the Preliminary Decision Written Finding and these  proposed timber sales. Comments should be mailed to the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection,  Kenai-Kodiak Office, 42499 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna AK 99669 and/or emailed to:  diane.campbell@alaska.gov. Comments must be received at the Division of Forestry no later than April 27, 2026 in order to be considered in the Final Decision of whether or not these sales will be held in  whole or in part. To be eligible to appeal a Final Decision, a person must have provided written  comment by April 27, 2026. Copies of the Preliminary Decision are available by contacting the Division at  the above physical address, email address, or by telephoning the office at (907) 260-4200. 

Copies of the Preliminary Decision are available for review at the Division of Forestry at the above  address and on the world wide web at: https://forestry.alaska.gov/timber/kenaikodiak 

The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry complies with Title II of the  Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who may need auxiliary aids,  services, or special modifications to participate in this review may contact the number above. 

Diane Campbell 

I. PROPOSED ACTION 

The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (DFFP) is proposing to offer approximately 55 acres of  Sitka spruce saw logs from state lands near milepost 2 of Nash Road in Seward (see Appendix A,  Nash Road Timber Sale Map). Unit 1 will be 45 acres, and Unit 2 will be 10 acres. The volume to  be offered totals approximately 829 MBF (1,974 CCF). DFFP would sell the timber as a sealed bid  for commercial use under provisions of AS 38.05.120. For this timber sale, a Draft Forest Land Use  Plan (FLUP) will also be issued for review. 

The management objectives for the proposed timber sale are: 

1. To follow the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) constitutional mandate to  encourage the development of the State’s renewable resources, making them available for  maximum use consistent with public interest. 

2. To provide state timber for production of wood products for commercial and personal use.  3. To help the state’s economy by providing royalties to the state from stumpage receipts, and  adding to the state’s economy through wages, purchases, jobs and business. 

4. To develop the area to meet multiple management objectives and enhance wildlife habitat. 5. Provide fuelwood for residential heating needs of local communities. 

6. Harvesting timber from areas to reduce future developmental costs. 

II. STATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITY 

The Division is taking this action under the authority of  

• AS 38.05.035(e) Best Interest Finding; 

• AS 38.05.110-120 and 11 AAC 71, Timber Sale Statutes and Regulations; and • AS 41.17.010-950 and 11 AAC 95 Forest Resources and Practices Statutes and Regulations. 

III. ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD 

The Division will maintain an administrative record regarding the decision of whether or not to pro ceed with the action as proposed. This record will be maintained at the DFFP’s Kenai- Kodiak Area  Office filed as SC-3265-K PBIF.

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IV. SCOPE OF DECISION 

This preliminary best interest finding (PBIF) is the first part of step three of a six-step process to de sign, sell, and administer timber sales. The following list summarizes the overall process:  

Step 1: Regional planning. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) develops area  plans and state forest management plans to designate appropriate uses for state land, classify the land  accordingly, and establish management guidelines for multiple use. These plans determine where  timber sales are an allowed use, and what other uses must be considered when designing and imple menting sales. Subsequent land use decisions must be consistent with the area plans. The area in this  PBIF is covered by the Kenai Area Plan (2001). The finding also considers the Interagency Wildland  Fire Management Plan and Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2022).  The proposed area is within the Kenai Peninsula Borough, and this finding considers the Kenai Pen insula Borough Comprehensive Management Plan (2019). 

Step 2: Five-year Schedule of Timber Sales (AS 38.05.113). The Kenai-Kodiak Area Office pre pares a Five-year Schedule of Timber Sales (FYSTS) every other year. The Schedule identifies pro posed sales, including their location, volume, and main access routes. The Five-year Schedules are  scoping documents that provide an opportunity for public, agency, and industry to identify potential  issues and areas of interest for further consideration in the best interest finding and Forest Land Use  Plan. A proposed timber sale must appear in at least one of the two Five-year Schedules preceding  the sale. This timber sale has been identified in the 2026-2030 FYSTS. 

Step 3: Best Interest Finding. A best interest finding is the decision document that:  • Establishes the overall area within which the timber sale may occur,  

• Determines the amount of timber that will be offered for sale and the duration of the sale,  • Sets the overall harvest and reforestation strategy for the sale area,  

• Determines whether the sale proposal complies with the Constitutional requirement to manage sustained yield by evaluating the amount of timber in the sale and the annual allowable cut for  the affected area,  

• Selects the appropriate method of sale (i.e., competitive or negotiated sale), and  • Determines the appraisal method that will be used to determine the sale price.  

The Preliminary Best Interest Finding (PBIF) is intended to provide sufficient information for re viewers to ensure that the best interest of the State will be served by the proposed action.  

After public and agency review of the PBIF, DFFP will review comments, make changes as appro priate, and issue a final best interest finding (BIF). DFFP must adopt a final BIF before selling tim ber. A person affected by the final decision who provided timely written comment or public hearing  testimony on the preliminary decision may appeal it, in accordance with 11 AAC 02.  

Step 4: Forest Land Use Plans (AS 38.05.112). Prior to authorizing harvest of timber on any area  greater than 10 acres, the DFFP must adopt a site-specific Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) for the har vest area. DFFP will prepare a FLUP for the harvest area within the overall sale area covered by this  best interest finding. FLUPs specify the site, size, timing, and harvest methods for harvest units within the sale area. FLUPs also address site-specific requirements for access construction and  maintenance, reforestation, and multiple use management. Draft FLUPs will be based on additional  field work, agency and community consultation, and site-specific analyses by the DFFP, and will be  subject to public and agency review. 

Step 5: Timber sales and contracts. Following adoption of the final best interest finding, and com pletion of the FLUP, DFFP will offer timber for sale by auctioning competitive sales and/or negotiat ing some sales with purchasers. The Division will sign a contract with the winning bidder for each  sale. The contract will include stipulations to ensure compliance with the best interest finding,  FLUP, and statutory requirements.  

Step 6: Sale administration. DFFP administers timber sales and conducts field inspections to ensure  compliance with the final best interest finding, FLUP, timber sale contract, and applicable laws, in cluding the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act and regulations (AS 41.17 and 11 AAC 95),  and forest management statutes and regulations in AS 38.05 and 11 AAC 71. 

V. PROJECT LOCATION, LAND STATUS, AND DESCRIPTION A. Location  

The proposed sale area covers state land near milepost 2 of Nash Road in Seward. The legal de scription of this proposed sale is Township 1 North, Range 1 West, Section 36. The area is on  the United State Geological Survey 1:63.360 Quadrangle maps titled Seward A-7.  

Sawmill Creek (AWC 231-30-10096) is west of the timber sale area which flows into Resurrec tion Bay. The area’s Alaska Native regional corporation is Cook Inlet Regional Inc. and has adjacent property. Qutekcak Native Tribe is the nearest native group.  

The attached map in Appendix A depicts the sale units. 

B. Title status 

The proposed sale area is owned and managed by the State of Alaska Department of Natural Re sources. The land is part of State Patent 1221953. There are no known title restrictions. 

SCH 5 – ALL PREVIOUS SCHOOL LAND LITIGATION HAS BEEN RESOLVED, AND AS  OF 11/7/2017 D.O. 143 HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND NO LONGER APPLIES. 

C. Land use planning, classification, and management intent 

The proposed sale area is within the Kenai Area Plan (KEAP Unit 450 and Unit 364A). The land use classifications include Settlement and Resource Management – High Value. 

-KEAP Unit 450 (Unit 1) management intent includes the following information applicable to  the proposed sale area: 

Area Forester