Notice of Intent-to-Adopt Comment Period: Haines State Forest Resource Management Area Management Plan Amendment

What is this notice about?

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection plans to adopt an updated management plan for the Haines State Forest Resource Management Area, with changes made in response to earlier public comments. The public can review those changes and send written comments from October 1 to November 2, 2026, before the plan goes to the Department of Natural Resources Commissioner's Office for adoption.

Why was this notice issued?

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection intends to adopt the public review draft of the Haines State Forest Resource Management Area Management Plan amendment. It has prepared an Issue Response Summary (IRS) with recommended revisions based on comments received during the public review period held April 9, 2026 through June 5, 2026. This 30-day Intent-to-Adopt comment period comes before the plan is submitted to the DNR Commissioner's Office for adoption.

What action is being taken?

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) intends to adopt the public review draft of the Haines State Forest Resource Management Area Management Plan, as modified by the recommended revisions in the Issue Response Summary. The plan describes the land in the area and sets guidelines for managing natural resources there. It follows the state law principles of sustained yield and multiple use (AS 38.04.065) and the main purposes of the management area (AS 41.15.300). The Issue Response Summary, including the recommended revisions, is open for public review and comment.

Who is involved: Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, Northern Southeast Area Office; Haines State Forest Resource Management Area

How can the public respond?

Respond by Mon, Nov 2, 2026 This deadline has passed.

“Comments must be received no later than 5:00pm Monday, November 2, 2026.”

Ways to respond

Email dnr.dof.haines@alaska.gov
Mail Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, Attn: Forest Planner, 500 W. 7th Ave. Ste 1450, Anchorage, AK 99501

What to include

Comments must be in writing. The Issue Response Summary and Public Review Draft Management Plan are available online at http://forestry.alaska.gov/HSFamendment/, and hard copies are available at the DFFP office in Haines. Comments already addressed by the Issue Response Summary released with this notice will not be addressed again. Comments that raise new issues will receive responses in a second Issue Response Summary, released when the plan is submitted to the DNR Commissioner's Office for approval.

Contact

Geneva Preston
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (Forest Planner)
geneva.preston@alaska.gov
(907)451-1645
500 W. 7th Ave. Ste 1450, Anchorage, AK 99501

Will there be public meetings?

The notice does not announce any public meeting or hearing.

Key dates

Apr 9, 2026: Start of the earlier public review period for the draft management plan
Jun 5, 2026: End of the earlier public review period for the draft management plan
Oct 1, 2026: Intent-to-Adopt comment period opens
Nov 2, 2026: Comment deadline (5:00pm); comment period closes

Original notice text

State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Northern Southeast Area Office Notice of Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Intent to Adopt Comment Period - Haines State Forest Resource Management Area Management Plan Amendment The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) invites the public to participate in a 30-day Intent-to-Adopt comment period for the Haines State Forest (HSF) Resource Management Area (RMA) Management Plan (MP). DFFP intends to adopt the public review draft of the HSFRMA MP, as modified by the recommended revisions included in the attached Issue Response Summary (IRS). The IRS was developed in response to comments submitted during the public review period held April 9, 2026 through June 5, 2026. The management plan includes summary descriptions of the HSFRMA land base and guidelines for the management of natural resources within the HSFRMA boundary under legislatively mandated principles of sustained yield and multiple use (AS 38.04.065) and in alignment with the primary purposes of the HSFRMA (AS 41.15.300). From October 1 - November 2, 2026, the Issue Response Summary, including recommended revisions to the plan, will be open for public review and comment prior to submission to the DNR Commissioner's Office for adoption. The Issue Response Summary and Public review Draft Management Plan are available online at: http://forestry.alaska.gov/HSFamendment/. Hard copies will be available at the DFFP office in Haines. Please submit comments in writing to: dnr.dof.haines@alaska.gov or Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection Attn: Forest Planner 500 W. 7th Ave. Ste 1450 Anchorage, AK 99501 For comments to be considered, they must be received no later than 5:00pm Monday, November 2, 2026. If comments submitted during this review period are addressed by the IRS released with this notice, they will not be addressed again. Comments identifying new issues will receive responses which will be communicated through a second IRS released as the plan is submitted to the DNR Commissioner's Office for approval. For more information, please contact Geneva Preston Forest Planner geneva.preston@alaska.gov (907)451-1645

This summary was written by an AI model (Claude) from the official notice text. This is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm deadlines and instructions in the official notice. Legal disclaimer.