SEACC's Public Hearings on Tongass Roadless Rule

0:00A conservation group called the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council is stepping up with public hearings on the Tongas National Forest Roadless. Rule. Since the Federal Forest Service isn't holding any, this rule shields millions of acres in Southeast Alaska from new roads and big logging operations and the feds are eyeing changes. They're kicking off panels with tribal leaders, business folks, hunters and fishers to discuss how these wild areas fuel local life, then taking. The comments defeat straight into the official federal record. Events head Juno on April 1st, cake on April 3rd, clow walk on April 8th, with more communities and a virtual one possibly coming late, April or early May, Alaskan's lean hard on these roadless spots for subsistence hunting, fishing, tourism and cultural routes, especially indigenous to Lingat, Haida and Simeon communities who stewarded the land forever. Former advocates push back, saying they need steady federal timber sales after a decade,

1:02without arguing road changes alone won't fix jobs. A federal judge just tossed a timber industry lawsuit pushing old-growth logging, calling it a win for protections, though it doesn't touch the rulemaking. The Forest Service plans a draft environmental impact statement soon, opening a 30-day public comment window likely late April. Post-contract details on SEAC's Facebook page and show up strong. That's the real power move as this debate heats up over the Tongas future. I'm Corey with The Story and you've been listening to Anchorage News today, AI-powered local news.