Timber Industry

China due to become Alaska's top export customer

China will emerge as Alaska's top export customer for 2011 when final trade statistics are counted for the last two months of the year, state officials say.

Commission asks that logging road be rejected

A logging company's proposal for a new road in Chiniak faces an uphill battle.

Appeals court upholds Southeast timber sale

A federal appeals court has affirmed an earlier court ruling that the Logjam Timber Sale on Prince of Wales Island can move forward.

Tongass timber sale proposed

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing the harvest of up to 53.4 million board feet of timber within the Petersburg Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest.

Stranded passengers ferried to cruise ship

An Alaska transportation official said several dozen stranded cruise ship passengers found shelter and a ride from the state ferry Malaspina this week.

Southeast State Forest expanded

Gov. Sean Parnell has signed legislation adding more than 23,000 acres to the Southeast State Forest.

Court finds Tongass timber sales need more evaluation

Environmental groups scored a victory in a court decision involving four timber sales in the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion Tuesday finding that the U.S. Forest Service erred in approving the sales.

Coast Guard rescues, airlifts injured logger

The Coast Guard has rescued a logger who suffered a chainsaw injury.

Sealaska lands bill to help timber industry moves out of committee

The House Natural Resources Committee has voted 34-10 to move the Sealaska lands bill to the House floor for a vote.

Delegation hopes to kill roadless rule

Alaska's congressional delegation is pushing legislation to repeal a rule that bars new roads and many timber sales in roadless areas of the state's national forests.

State to challenge Tongass roadless rule

The state of Alaska will challenge both the Clinton-era Roadless Rule for Tongass National Forest and a federal judge's recent decision overturning an exemption to that rule in Southeast Alaska.

Alaska plans to challenge a pair of Tongass rulings

The state of Alaska will challenge both the Clinton-era Roadless Rule for Tongass National Forest and a federal judge's recent decision overturning an exemption to that rule in southeast Alaska.

Federal judge reinstates roadless rule in Tongass forest

A federal judge has sided with the village of Kake and reinstated the Clinton-era roadless rule in southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest.

Timber industry dies without land deal, Sealaska tells panel

What little remains of Southeast Alaska's timber industry won't survive if the Sealaska Native corporation can't finalize a land deal allowing it access to the timber it wants in the Tongass National Forest, the company warned a Senate committee Wednesday.

Judge reinstates Tongass roadless rule

A federal judge in Anchorage has sided with the village of Kake and reinstated the roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest.

Cruise West ending operations today

A small Seattle-based cruise line known for its Alaska cruises says it's ending operations today and canceling all but one of its scheduled cruises.

Alaska has a new state forest

Gov. Sean Parnell said the Southeast State Forest, established with legislation he signed Monday, is intended to create new jobs and be a first step toward revitalizing the timber industry in that part of the state.

Sealaska claims Tongass land guaranteed by 1971 measure

Sealaska Corp. officials say the proposed transfer of some Tongass National Forest land to the Native corporation under a bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski is part of a guarantee made by a 1971 law.

Sealaska bill for Tongass land being revised in Congress

A controversial lands bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski and being considered in Congress is being revised.

New course charted for Alaska national forest

The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday announced a program to open economic opportunities and spare the remaining old-growth trees in the country's largest national forest.

Former Fish and Game officials oppose Sealaska lands bill

Three former top administrators with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are warning the governor about a bill allowing a Native corporation to select lands in the Tongass National Forest.