4/10/20 DNR offers COVID-19 economic relief via fee extension, suspension

For Immediate Release: April 8, 2020

DNR offers COVID-19 economic relief via fee extension, suspension

(Anchorage, AK) – The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is helping ease the economic burden on Alaskans from the COVID-19 outbreak by using the governor’s and commissioner’s authority to suspend or extend certain fees during the next few weeks.

“Governor Mike Dunleavy has made it clear that we should use our authority to do what we can to ease the burden on Alaskans suffering economic harm from the current pandemic,” said DNR Commissioner Corri A. Feige. “Relying on his emergency authority and mine, we’re offering Alaskans some economic breathing room by pushing pause on collection of several DNR fees.”

Feige said her department’s web page now has a prominent link to a “COVID-19 Economic Relief” page (http://dnr.alaska.gov/covid_19_economic_relief.htm) providing details on DNR fee suspension and extension, and directions on how to obtain them by working with the appropriate DNR division.

The Division of Mining, Land & Water is delaying collection of certain charges for land sales contracts, land leases, and land use permits. Individual land buyers, lessees of state land, or permittees unable to make payments should contact the division by email at dnr.dmlw.financialassistance@alaska.gov or by phone at (907) 269-8594.

The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is suspending collection of fees for certain commercial use permits in Alaska State Parks. Those seeking such fee suspension should first review details by visiting http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/permits/ and scrolling down to the Commercial Use Permits section, then emailing the division at parkpermitting@alaska.gov.

The Division of Forestry plans to suspend collection of personal firewood cutting permit fees, log salvage permit fees, and fees relating to log brands, effective upon completion of program modifications by Thursday, April 9. For information on the firewood cutting fee suspension, go to https://dnr.alaska.gov/FPS/. For information on log salvage and log brand fee suspension, call the Ketchikan area office at (907) 225-3070.

Fee suspensions and extensions derived from the Governor’s COVID-19 Disaster Order of Suspension No. 2 as amended on April 1 are suspended from April 1 through May 11. Fee payment extensions derived from exercise of the commissioner’s statutory authority, either directly or as exercised through a division director’s finding and order, apply to fees due between April 1 and May 11. Details are available through the division contacts as listed above.

While collection of the DNR fees will be temporarily suspended or extended, the fees must eventually be paid, Feige cautioned. DNR will continue to monitor the economic situation and do its best to develop a plan for fee collection that places as little stress as possible on the public and small business.

“The fee suspensions represent the governor’s effort to ease the immediate burden on Alaska citizens and businesses from the unanticipated outbreak of the coronavirus and resulting social and economic restrictions,” she said. “We at DNR are glad to do our part as Alaskans, helping each other keep our state moving as we meet the challenge of an unexpected and unprecedented public health crisis.”

CONTACT: Dan Saddler, (907) 269-8427, dan.saddler@alaska.gov

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