Opinion ID: 1359921
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: New Growth Volume

Text: SEACC contends that the new growth volume [28] used by Saupe in his calculation included trees too small to be commercially useful over the 100 year rotation period, [29] and therefore that use of that volume violated the provisions of AS 41.17.060(c)(1) and (4). [30] Saupe arrived at the new growth volume through use of a table utilizing trees of a 7 inch diameter at breast height and greater. [31] SEACC contends that since the present contract as well as industry practice consider only timber of 12 inches dbh and over to be merchantable, the allowable cut calculations should not have been relied on. SEACC then argues that this error violates the dictate of AS 41.17.060(c)(4) that timber harvesting occur only where production of a sustained yield of merchantable timber will be possible. Saupe testified that he used the 7 inch dbh table based upon his past experience in the Lake States with pulp wood and a supposition that in the future more harvesting of pulp wood would occur in the Haines area. Schnabel's expert witness, Dr. Carl Newport, also testified that use of the lower dbh figure was consistent with the concept that in the future smaller trees would be utilized in the Haines area. These conclusions regarding future industry practice in the Haines area do not seem beyond the bounds of reason.