HomeMy WebLinkAboutDNR support letterOSEAN PARNELL, GOVERNOR
NORTHERN SE AREA OFFICE
P.O. BOX 263
HAINES, ALASKA 99827
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PHONE: (907) 766-2120
FAX. (907) 766-3225
DIVISION OF FORESTRY
September, 19, 2013
Skip Ryman, Manager
City and Borough of Yakutat
309 Max Italio Drive
Yakutat, AK 99689
Dear Mr. Ryman;
I appreciate your interest in applying to the Alaska Energy Authority for funding to install a biomass
district heating project for the City and Borough of Yakutat. I understand the project will provide
wood heat to public buildings such as the city hall and the court house/planning office building and
also to include the community center that is owned by the Yak-tat-Kwaan Village Corporation and
leased to the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe. The proposed project hopes to enlist the partnership of the
Yakutat Tlingit Tribe. The Garn Boiler Company is also interested in partnering with the project to
experiment with operating their equipment with beach wood.
Certainly with the continuing increasing costs of fuel it only makes sense to look at local sources of
fuel to reduce the cost of heating. With the forests we have around us it makes good sense that one
of those sources of fuel includes wood heat. Technology has made great strides in efficiency of
wood boilers and making this an effective reality. It also has the added benefit of keeping those
costs local rather than sending dollars out of state or overseas.
Using beach wood also makes sense since the wood is just going to rot on the beaches if not used. I
understand you intend to salvage wood from the beach between the mouth of the Situk River and
Ocean Cape and possibly around to Pt. Carew. The State of Alaska (AS 45.50.235) owns timber
that is lost or abandoned in the waters of Alaska. The waters of Alaska include the 3 mile limit in
the oceans up to mean high tide. That being said, many of the logs on the beaches get pushed up
above mean high tide onto the upland owners of the property. In this case, the upland owners
include the USFS, State of Alaska, and municipal selected land. In either case we will most likely
issue you a permit to do the beach salvage. Permission from the upland owners will also need to be
obtained.
"To responsibly develop Alaska's resources by making them available for
maximum use and benefto consis&W with the public Interest "
Skip Ryman
9/20/ 13
Page 2 of 2
The Division of Forestry supports your project as a wise investment in using the local renewable
resources to provide an economical energy source for heating your community buildings. If this
project proves successful perhaps additional buildings will be added to the system.
Sincer-'-
Roy N
Northern Southeast Area Forester
CC Ian Fisk, Yakutat Renewable Energy Coordinator
Mike Curran, Coastal Regional Forester