I, Bill Sheffield, Governor of the State of Alaska, under the authority granted by Article III of the Alaska Constitution and Alaska Statute 44.19.145(c), find and order the following:
* Section 1. FINDINGS:
1. A combination of public policies and world financial and market factors has seriously weakened Alaska’ 5 forest products industry in recent years.
2. The industry is critically important to the economy of Alaska. Accordingly, it is essential that plans for the continuation and improvement of the industry be determined for the short-term, the mid-term, and the long-term (twenty-five years).
3. Improvement can be accomplished only with a better understanding of the industry as a whole and of public policies and world financial and competitive factors affecting the industry.
4. Such an analysis and recommendations will be of value only if they are accomplished by the industry itself with the assistance of the U. S. Forest Service and the State of Alaska.
* Section 2. PURPOSE: The purpose of the order is to establish a combined government and private industry task force:
1. To analyze: a) the Report to the Governor submitted in draft by the Division of Forestry of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources; and b) the immediate, mid-term and long-term problems of the Alaska timber industry; and
2. To make recommendations to the Governor and to the Regional Forester no later than December 15, 1984, concerning policies which should be adopted or changed to provide for a healthy timber industry.
* Section 3. ALASKA TIMBER TASK FORCE:
1. The task force shall be composed of 14 members, appointed by the Governor: the Governor, or his designee; Commissioners of Natural Resources, Commerce, and Fish and Game, or their designee; the U. S. Department of Agriculture Regional Forester for Alaska, or his designee; the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or his designee, and eight members representing the Alaska forest products industry.
2. The Governor shall appoint one member as chairman of the task force.
3. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, although travel payments may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
* Section 4: RESPONSIBILITIES: The task force shall, by December 15, 1984, submit a report to the Governor which:
1. Analyzes the opportunities for selling Alaska forest products on domestic and foreign markets and makes recommendations concerning what the State and federal government can do in the short-term and long-term to provide for such sales. The task force shall particularly recommend ways to increase Alaska’s share of the export market for forest products among the Pacific Rim countries.
2. Analyzes State and federal laws, regulations and policies that materially affect the economic health of the industry and make recommendations for actions to change such laws, regulations, and policies in a manner which would enhance the profitability of the timber industry.
3. Makes recommendations as to what infrastructure in support of the industry could be provided in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term.
4. Analyzes financial factors that materially affect the economic health of the industry and make recommendations describing what financial mechanisms and institutions could be provided to stabilize and enhance the industry in the near-term, mid-term, and long-term.
5. Analyzes the Report to the Governor prepared by the Division of Forestry, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and makes recommendations concerning it.
DATED: October 24, 1984.
S/S Bill Sheffield
Bill Sheffield
Governor of the State of Alaska
