June 29, 2016			
									
Comment on The Wrangell Island Project

1.Wrangell Island covers 210 square miles. According to the Forest Service, 58% is forest and 43% of that is non-productive. That works out to be 70 square miles of productive forest on Wrangell Island. From what I can learn only about 24% of the old growth exists on Wrangell and Etolin Islands. If that is accurate, that leaves 16.8 square miles of old growth forest.  The Project's Alternative 2 is 5,309 acres or 8.3 square miles.

This plan proposes to cut almost exactly half of the sparse old growth forest that remains on the Island - the best of what is left.

2. Before the Silver Bay Mill packed up, they cut all the old growth guard trees down the beach to the mill. They cut the old growth around what is the new clinic, they clearcut the Mental Health Lands from 5 mile to Pat's Creek at 10 mile. While these lands are not controlled by the Forest Service, I think the point should be made that the industry has few standards when it comes to protecting natural beauty or heritage forest. 

The logging industry has been like a bad tenant that leaves your house a mess and your favorite things broken or missing. It has taken away some of the most beautiful scenery on the island. 

3.The scale of this project at 65 million board feet, invites big industry back. It will compete for manpower with the local industries that have fought hard to get established here in the wake of the logging exodus.
Wrangell was awarded 40 million dollars in economic development money to help it survive the failure of the logging industry as a result of the Roadless Initiative. 
The environmental impacts of this project run contrary to the interests of the new industries that have grown up in the aftermath of logging - fisheries, tourism, and Alaska Crossings, a program that immerses at-risk youth in the natural environment.

The economy of Wrangell is no longer dependent on the logging industry. I think everyone agrees that the small local operations should be encouraged but most people that I have talked to are revolted by the idea of becoming a logging town again. To reopen this wound by reintroducing logging on a large scale is an insult to those who have worked to develop alternatives. It is an insult to the lawmakers and tax payers that awarded Wrangell the development money. It is quite possible that the small mills that currently operate here would be put out of business. 

 4.The Native Claims Settlement Act mysteriously left out the Wrangell Natives - one story has it that the lawyer that represented Southeast Alaska wanted Etolin Island as payment and the locals refused. There is a movement afoot to repatriate these people with their land. The environmental protection community may mount legal challenges, too.

Despite every effort to make this Project attractive to Big Industry, it could backfire because of legal issues.

Summary

1.Wrangell Island has been host to some of the most depredatory logging practices for well over a century. There is little untouched old growth left on the island.  
2.The industry has not had a good record as stewards of the land or good neighbors. 
3.Wrangell has become dependent on industries that would suffer if large scale logging were to be reintroduced. The boom and bust nature of logging is harmful to the growth and maturation of the community. 4.There is no way to guarantee that this project can be successful even if it wins Congressional approval. 

Tim Murray
522 Zimovia Ave.
Wrangell, AK 99929
Captco@aol.com