This is the Board’s report on a compliance audit of the Robson Valley Forest District Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (Robson Valley SBFEP). The Robson Valley SBFEP is operated within the Robson Valley Forest District, which is located in east-central British Columbia and lies primarily within the Rocky Mountain trench. The audit examined the Robson Valley SBFEP’s planning, field activities and obligations related to operational planning, timber harvesting, silviculture, fire protection and the construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads for the period of Sept. 27, 1999 to Sept. 29, 2000.
On May 11, 1999, the Board received a complaint from the BC Trappers Association on behalf of trappers on three registered traplines. During 1997 and 1998, Royal Oak Mines Inc. (the licensee) constructed a powerline for the Kemess South Mine that intersected the complainants' trapping areas. The complainants claim that traps, trails, a trapping cabin, furbearer habitat, and their businesses were harmed by construction of the powerline. The complainants requested that the Board assist them in getting compensation for their losses. However, the Board has no authority to require either the licensee or government to pay compensation.
This is a report on a compliance audit of Tree Farm Licence 42, held by Tanizul Timber Ltd. (Tanizul). TFL 42 is located north and east of Stuart Lake, south of Trembleur Lake and west of the Tachie River, in the Fort St. James Forest District.
The audit examined Tanizul’s timber harvesting, road practices, and related operational plans, for the period of June 1, 1999, to June 18, 2000. The audit assessed compliance with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and related regulations (the Code)
On August 30, 1999, the Board received a complaint from the owner of a tourist lodge (Takla Rainbow Lodge) on Takla Lake in the Fort St. James Forest District. The complainant said that he had been denied an adequate opportunity to participate in operational planning for Forest Licence A40873, which is held by Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (the licensee) and located across the lake from the lodge.
The complainant said that one of his main objectives in making the complaint was to create a freer flow of information about operational plans so that he could provide informed comments in future. He emphasized that improved communications were essential in addressing his substantive concerns about forest practices in the licence area and the impacts of logging on fish habitat and scenic views.
This is a report on a compliance audit of Forest Licence A40873 held by CanadianForest Products Ltd. (Canfor).
Before completing this report, the Board considered extensive written representations from Canfor as required under section 182 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. The Board also considered the Report from the Auditor along with supporting audit evidence
