
In 2014, the U.S. Forest Service repaired streams on Kuiu Island damaged by logging in the 1970s. (Photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)
The U.S. Forest Service won’t be facilitating a controversial old growth timber sale in the Tongass National Forest. At least, not in the immediate future. The agency received zero bids on the Kuiu Island timber sale before its closing deadline on Tuesday.
The forest service tried to sell these trees in 2016, but did not receive any offers back then either — even after all of the wood was approved for export.
The agency made changes to this latest version of the sale, reducing it by half and removing some of the more sensitive watershed areas.
But, the sale still faces a lawsuit filed by conservation groups and a tour company over its outdated environmental analysis.
One of the plaintiffs in the case says old growth logging in the Tongass is a practice that needs to end.
Recent headlines
Homer city manager to be Juneau’s new public works and engineering director
The City and Borough of Juneau announced Katie Koester as the new public works and engineering director on Monday. Former Director Mike Vigue retired earlier this month.In the middle of the holiday season, White Mountain has no regular mail service
According to the U.S. Postal Service, White Mountain has been without regular postal deliveries since late October, after the rural Alaska community's postmaster left her position.The Palmer Project, a mining prospect outside Haines, could transform into a large-scale operation
There’s no mine yet at the Palmer Project site. But a small cadre of scientists live there for half the year, looking for minerals.Woman testifies she was ‘livid’ Anchorage dentist pulled her tooth while on hoverboard
An Anchorage dentist is on trial for felony criminal counts of Medicaid fraud and reckless endangerment over — among other allegations — performing dentistry while on a hoverboard.