State opens sealed bidding on young-growth timber sale near Petersburg

Sealed-bid sale near Petersburg opens for young-growth timber

About 10.8 million board feet of young-growth timber near Petersburg is up for sealed bid, with offers due at 2 p.m. Aug. 25.

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is offering roughly 396 acres in 35 harvest units on forested uplands between Thomas Bay and Fredrick Sound, about 11 air miles northeast of Petersburg. The land is Tongass National Forest, Petersburg Ranger District. The state is administering the sale for the U.S. Forest Service under the Thomas Bay Good Neighbor Authority Supplemental Project Agreement, a federal-state arrangement letting states run timber sales on federal land.

The timber is entirely Sitka spruce and western hemlock: 9,824 thousand board feet of Number 3 and better sawtimber, plus an optional 946 thousand board feet of utility wood.

The minimum acceptable total bid is $99,186. The winning bidder must post a $100,000 performance bond and hold a current Alaska business license. Access is by boat or plane to the Thomas Bay Log Transfer Facility.

Bids go to the Good Neighbor Authority forester in Ketchikan, Mike Cooney. The contract expires Aug. 31, 2031.