Board to audit forestry companies in Burns Lake area

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of 639881 BC Ltd. on forest licence A72921 and Burnslake Specialty Wood Ltd. on non-replaceable forest licence A66762, during the week of Sept. 16.

The auditors will examine timber harvesting, road construction, maintenance, silviculture, fire prevention and associated planning activities carried out by the two companies for compliance with forest practices legislation.

The audit area lies within the Lakes timber supply area (TSA). The Lakes TSA is part of the Nadina District, which encompasses the communities of Burns Lake, Houston and Granisle, and extends from Tweedsmuir Park in the south to the Babine  Mountains in the north, and from Hungry Hill in the west to the Endako River in the east.

Most of the harvest is of beetle-killed wood. The annual allowable cut for the district has steadily increased since the late 1990s, as a result of the beetle epidemic.

Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.

The Forest Practices Board is B.C.’s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government.

The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.

More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman, Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899