WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the decision by the Forest Service to award the Big Thorne stewardship contract to Viking Lumber, but said the agency must vigorously defend the Tongass National Forest sale in court from challenges by environmental groups.

“After a year’s delay, I’m pleased that the Forest Service has finally awarded the Big Thorne contract. This sale is essential to the continued survival of the timber industry in Southeast,” Murkowski said. “However, the threat of continued litigation and further delay remains a concern. After years of unfulfilled promises, the Forest Service has an opportunity to restore some of its credibility with the people of Southeast Alaska by standing up for its decision to provide this important lifeline to the local timber industry.” 

Environmental groups have already filed three lawsuits challenging the Big Thorne stewardship contract.

Murkowski, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has previously criticized the Forest Service for failing to provide enough timber to support the few remaining mills in Southeast.

While the Forest Service’s current management plan for the Tongass supports harvesting up to 267 million board feet annually, the agency has allowed an average annual harvest of just 35 million board feet. The stewardship contract awarded this week would allow Viking to harvest 97 million board feet.

The Forest Service manages more than 22 million acres of national forest lands in Alaska, including nearly all of the land in Southeast.

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