Juneau -- The Alaska Senate today unanimously passed legislation which increases protections in the Alaska Forest Practices Act for water quality and fish habitat in Alaska's coastal rivers. The measure further defines the buffer zones that must be maintained adjacent to salmon streams in timber harvest areas.

"Senate Bill 12 is the end result of a lot hard work by a variety of conscientious people who respect our forest resources," said the bill's sponsor, Senator Jerry Mackie (R-Craig). "It will benefit fish habitat, our water quality, and all forest users," Sen. Mackie said.

"This bill is the result of a cooperative effort by timber, commercial fishing, and environmental groups with a vested interest in the sustained health of our renewable resources," said Sen. Mackie.

Sen. Mackie said SB 12 is the product of several years of work by experts in many fields who based their recommendations on scientific data on stream improvements. In 1996, the Alaska State Board of Forestry appointed a science and technical committee to review and assess the adequacy of the Forest Practices Act. The Committee was made up of scientists selected from the three major interest groups, as well as state and federal agencies.

Sen. Mackie said that the committee's two-year review did an excellent job of determining scientifically based improvements that would strengthen the Act. Their recommendations were endorsed by all of the participating interest groups as well as the Board of Forestry.

A similar bill introduced last year by Representative Gail Phillips (R-Homer) came very close to passage. "I expect the bill to become law this year. Approval by the Senate this early in the session is a good sign," Sen. Mackie said.

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