VICTORIA – An investigation of 216 bridges constructed throughout the province in the last three years has found numerous non-compliances with legislation and over two dozen bridges that may not be safe for industrial use, according to a report released today.
“The board was concerned with the growing number of instances of unsafe bridges showing up in recent audits, and so we did this investigation to find out the extent of the problem,” said Tim Ryan, board chair. “What we found is highly disturbing, given the emphasis government and industry have placed on safety in recent years.”
The investigation found 19 bridges that were obviously unsafe and another 13 bridges that were questionable. Forty per cent of the bridges did not have complete plans and for 74 bridges, the required sign-off by a professional that the bridge was designed and built correctly was not completed.
“The problem is not the lack of legislation or guidance by professional associations,” said Ryan. “The problem is that some professionals are not performing to the standards government and the public expect. We are recommending that the professional associations that govern foresters and engineers take action to improve performance by their members. We also suggest that licensees ensure their bridges are safe and government compliance and enforcement staff increase their attention to bridge safety.”
Bridges constructed in the Chilliwack, Vanderhoof, Rocky Mountain, Okanagan Shuswap and Cariboo Chilcotin districts since January 2010 were included in the investigation.
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 can investigate and report on current forestry and range issues and make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of Halalt First Nation’s forest planning and practices on forest licence W1632, near Chemainus, on Vancouver Island, found compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“We are pleased to see that most planning and practices complied with requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Tim Ryan, board chair.
However, Halalt failed to meet a requirement to report its activities to government annually, a significant non-compliance that the board has noted as fairly common in its audits of woodlots throughout the province.
Halalt harvested six cutblocks covering 53.3 hectares―approximately 16,100 cubic metres of timber―during the two-year audit period, from February 2011 to May 2013. The audit fieldwork took place on May 20, 2013.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of BC Timber Sales and timber sale licensees in the Coast Mountain Resource District found that forest planning, silviculture, fire protection, harvesting and road activities complied with forest practices legislation, according to a report released today.
“The BCTS program and timber sale licence holders did a good job,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Auditors did find one cutblock where a timber sale licence holder did not deactivate a winter road and natural drainage patterns were interrupted, but all other activities fully met the requirements of forest practices legislation.”
The audit fieldwork took place from June 10-14, 2013. The audit covers harvesting in 35 cutblocks — mostly to salvage blowdown from a major storm in 2010 — construction of 58 kilometres of new road and maintenance of over 1,000 kilometres of road.
The Coast Mountain Resource District includes Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, Stewart, New Aiyansh and Port Edward, as well as several villages. The majority of the forestry operations examined were in the Kalum timber supply area.
Due to its remote location and steep terrain, operating in this district can be challenging. There are also numerous natural resource interests in the area, including outdoor recreation, guide-outfitting, trapping, tourism and mining.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – Al Gorley, chair of the Forest Practices Board, has issued the following statement upon the announcement of Cabinet appointments by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson today:
“On behalf of board members and staff at the Forest Practices Board, we are pleased to welcome new board chair Timothy Ryan to our organization. Tim brings a wealth of forestry experience to the table, and staff and board members look forward to continuing to encourage sound management of B.C.’s forests under his leadership. We would also like to congratulate Bill McGill on his appointment to the role of vice-chair, and Ralph Archibald on his reappointment for another term. Both Bill and Ralph bring thoughtful insight to the deliberations of the board and their experience and contributions are highly valued by all of us.”
“It is with gratitude and good wishes that we bid goodbye to our outgoing vice-chair, Rachel Holt. Rachel has served on the board for seven years and her knowledge and understanding of forest ecosystems and climate-change issues in particular will be missed. Rachel’s willingness to speak her mind and her ability to cut to the heart of issues and ensure they are fully considered by the whole board has been a tremendous asset to our deliberations. We wish her well in her future endeavours.”
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.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations announcement of Board appointments
VICTORIA – An audit of Western Forest Products Inc.’s forestry activities on TFL 39, Block 1, found compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“We are pleased to see that Western Forest Products carried out good practices and met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “In particular, we note the company’s efforts to maintain open communication with the public as well as address recreation resources and visual quality in the TFL.”
Western harvested nearly half a million cubic metres of timber during the audit period, from June 2012 to June 2013.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An investigation of a complaint about logging along the Sunshine Coast Trail found that forestry activities are complying with forestry legislation and following the management principles for the trail, according to a report released today.
“The complainant was concerned that forestry activities are not maintaining the integrity of the trail,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “We found that the forest company is undertaking practices such as cleaning the trail of logging debris, retaining some trees along the trail where feasible, and relocating sections of the trail when necessary. It also works closely with the local community to keep them informed about planned operations and to address local concerns.”
The complainant would prefer that the trail be protected from forestry activities with a buffer; however, the trail was originally established in the early 1990s to coexist with the working forest around it. In 2009, government established management principles for the trail to integrate forestry activities with recreation. In the board’s view, not enough time has passed since establishment of the principles to judge their effectiveness at maintaining the trail’s integrity.
The Sunshine Coast Trail is approximately 180 kilometres long, running from Sarah Point, north of Lund, south to Saltery Bay, near Powell River. The trails passes through parks, private land and Crown land. It is primarily maintained by volunteers from the community working with the Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society.
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 investigates public complaints about forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of Ndazkhot’en Forest Management’s forestry activities on forest licences A65926 and A81934, near the Village of Nazko west of Quesnel, found compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“The majority of harvesting was salvage of beetle-killed pine trees,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “We are pleased to see that the licensee carried out good practices and met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.”
Ndazkhot’en harvested 441 000 cubic metres of timber during the two-year audit period, from August 2011 to August 2013. They also constructed and maintained 154 and 294 kilometres of road, respectively.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forestry activities on eight woodlots on Southern Vancouver Island concludes the woodlot owners complied with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“These woodlots are managed by a variety of different types of licence holders, including a family, small forest companies, First Nations and Vancouver Island University,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “All of them demonstrated their commitment to sound forest management.”
The woodlots are located across the south island, with one near Ucluelet, three near Port Alberni, one near Nanaimo, two near Ladysmith and one near Sooke.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of Ka-Bar Resources Ltd.’s forestry activities, 45 kilometres northeast of Princeton, found compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“This was a small operator that harvested 10 cutblocks to salvage beetle-killed trees and reduce forest fuels to protect the community of Bankeir from wildfire,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “The cutblocks are near private land, residences, recreation sites and the Kettle Valley Railway Trail, which created challenges for the licensee. We are pleased to report that Ka-Bar did a good job meeting legislated requirements and reducing the wildfire risk to the community.”
Government introduced the forestry licence to cut for community wildfire protection in 2006 to facilitate efforts to protect urban interface areas from the threat of wildfires. This is the first time the board has audited this type of licence.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of BC Hydro’s fire prevention practices on four licences to cut associated with the Columbia Valley Transmission Project found operations met the requirements of B.C.’s Wildfire Act, according to a report released today.
“The board reviewed emergency response plans and burn plans, among other things, as part of the audit,” said Al Gorley, board chair. “We found that BC Hydro clearly addressed fire preparedness in its planning, meeting all requirements in the Wildfire Act. As well, it had detailed site plans for clearing and slash disposal for the entire 125 kilometres of the transmission line project.”
The transmission line extends 125 kilometres from Invermere to Golden through the Columbia Valley. The Columbia Valley is a popular recreation destination and is home to a variety of wildlife.
Under the Wildfire Act, a person carrying out an industrial activity, such as land clearing, must take steps to protect forest and range resources from wildfire. This is the first time the board has looked at BC Hydro activities for compliance with the act.
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 lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Darlene Oman, Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
