Alaska's governor is refusing to repay more than $800,000 to the U.S. Forest Service due to automatic federal budget cuts.
Gov. Sean Parnell, in a letter to the agency's chief, says he doesn't believe the Forest Service is authorized to demand the money back. He won't ask the Legislature to consider the request.
Parnell says the amount in question includes $707,000 that's already been paid to the state and $118,000 not yet allocated.
Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell sent 41 states letters asking for the return of $17.9 million in timber payments used to pay for schools, roads, search and rescue operations in rural counties and conservation projects.
Wyoming's governor has refused to repay more than $200,000.
The National Governors Association has requested legal justification for the agency's demand.