(Juneau) - Representative Jim Elkins (R-Ketchikan) from House District 1, today voiced his support for the South Thorne Bay #1 timber sale proposed by the State Division of Forestry.

"This 128 acre sale will provide an estimated 3.8 MBF (million board feet) of marketable timber and after review, I believe is consistent with the Alaska Coastal Management Program," stated Representative Elkins.

The sale area is located approximately 4 miles southeast of Thorne Bay. The State maintains a public list of mills in Southeast Alaska that have expressed interest in timber sales and will market the sale based on this list.

Representative Elkins continued, "The beauty of this proposal is that it requires the harvested timber to be manufactured in-state. This will sustain and promote a healthy, long-term timber industry as well as the local economy of the communities on Prince of Wales Island and elsewhere in southern Southeast Alaska."

"The project will improve forest growth and vigor by harvesting and replacing mature stands with new healthy stands of regrowth. This is an excellent example of multiple-use management," said Representative Elkins.

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