Victoria - In a report released today, the Forest Practices Board concluded that government’s deferral on deciding whether to make the Hasty/Aylwin watershed a community watershed was reasonable. The watershed is located near Silverton, BC.

The report concludes the Board’s investigation of a complaint that the regional managers at the Ministries of Forests and Environment, Lands, and Parks failed to exercise their discretion to designate the watershed under the Forest Practices Code.

"Ministry officials met the requirements of the Code when they decided to defer the decision until criteria for evaluating community watershed applications were completed," said Board Chair, Keith Moore. "The Code says they may designate an area as a community watershed, but they are not required to do so. In this case, they decided to wait until the criteria were completed before evaluating all applications on the same basis."

The complaint was filed by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, on behalf of the Red Mountain Residents Association. The Association represents many of the licensed water users in the Hasty/Aylwin watershed who depend on the watershed for drinking and domestic water.

The complaint also asserted that the Ministry of Forests delayed the decision to allow a road to be constructed in the watersheds. However, the Board determined that even if the area was designated as a community watershed, the proposed road would still meet the basic requirements of the Code. Since the complaint was filed, the road permit has not been approved and the road has not been built.

The evaluation criteria have now been developed and the ministries are awaiting a number of applications for community watershed status, including a new Hasty/Aylwin application. "The Board has asked the government to ensure that applicants for community watershed status are kept well informed of the status of their application as the process moves forward" said Moore.

A watershed designated as a community watershed can receive additional planning and protection under the Code to ensure the water is adequately protected from forestry activities.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board reports to the public and government about compliance with the Forest Practices Code and the achievement of its intent. The Board’s main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations

VICTORIA - International Forest Products’ forest practices in Tree Farm Licence 10 (TFL 10) on the mainland coast are complying with the Forest Practices Code, according to a Forest Practices Board audit released today.

"Interfor’s practices complied with the Code in all significant respects." said Board chair, Keith Moore. "Overall, this is a good audit result."

The audit examined timber harvesting and construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads, and the associated planning, carried out on TFL 10 between May 1997 and June 1998. The TFL is located north of Powell River near Toba Inlet. The TFL was selected randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance.

During the audit, a number of old road systems that need to be deactivated or repaired to prevent damage to the environment were identified. Some of the roads are in an area that Interfor can not access. These roads are at risk of deteriorating beyond repair, which would be a significant economic loss for the province. Some deactivation work is scheduled on the roads in the accessible part of the TFL, but more work is required on other roads.

Interfor has not used the roads since the Code came into effect, and is not responsible for maintaining or deactivating them under the Code. The Board has suggested that both Interfor and government need to look into this problem. Similar problems with deteriorating old roads have also been identified in other audits in other parts of the province.

The Board has undertaken nine compliance audits in 1998. The report on an audit of Slocan Forest Product’s operations in the Slocan Valley was also released today, and was also a clean audit. These are the first clean audits of timber harvesting and roads that the Board has seen since it began auditing forest practices in 1996. "These results support the Board’s observations that compliance with the Code has improved each year since it came into effect," said Moore.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board reports to the public and government about compliance with the Forest Practices Code and the achievement of its intent. The Board’s main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Slocan Forest Products’ operations in the Slocan Valley are complying with the Forest Practices Code, according to a Forest Practices Board audit released today.

"Slocan’s practices complied with the Code in all significant respects. There is a high degree of compliance in an operating area with eleven community watersheds and steep terrain," said Board chair, Keith Moore. "This is a good audit result."

The audit examined timber harvesting, construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads, and the associated planning, carried out between June 1997 and July 1998 on Slocan’s Forest Licence A20192. The licence was selected for audit randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance. Slocan’s operating areas are located on both sides of Slocan Lake, from South Slocan to Nakusp.

During the audit, a number of old road systems that need to be deactivated or repaired to prevent damage to forest resources and water quality were identified. Some remedial work has been done on the roads, but more is required. The roads are not part of Slocan’s forest license and have never been Slocan’s responsibility. Under the Code, no one is responsible for maintaining or repairing these roads. The Board has suggested that government needs to assess the situation. Similar problems with deteriorating old roads have also been identified in other audits in other parts of the province.

The Board has undertaken nine compliance audits in 1998. The report on an audit of Interfor’s Tree Farm License 10 on the mainland coast was also released today, and was also a clean audit. These are the first clean audits of timber harvesting and roads that the Board has seen since it began auditing forest practices in 1996. "These results support the Board’s observations that compliance with the Code has improved each year since it came into effect," said Moore.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board reports to the public and government about compliance with the Forest Practices Code and the achievement of its intent. The Board’s main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - The Forest Practices Board today released the results of its audits of Interfor’s TFL 10 on the mainland coast and Slocan Group’s forest licence in the Slocan Valley. Both audits conclude that the companies met the requirements of the Forest Practices Code.

"Both Interfor and Slocan complied with the Code in all significant respects." said Board chair, Keith Moore. "These are the first clean audits of timber harvesting and roads that the Board has seen since we began auditing forest practices in 1996. They are good audit results. They support the Board’s observations that compliance with the Code has improved each year since the Code came into effect," said Moore.

Both audits examined timber harvesting and construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads, and the associated planning, carried out between the summer of 1997 and the summer of 1998. Both licences were selected for audit randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance.

Both audits also identify old logging roads that are deteriorating and need to be deactivated or repaired to prevent damage to the environment from occurring. These roads were all built prior to the Code, and have not been used since the Code came into effect. As a result, Interfor and Slocan are not responsible for them under the Code. "These deteriorating and unmaintained roads are a problem we have seen in several audits now," said Moore. "The Slocan audit is the first time we have seen them in the interior. This appears to be a significant problem that government needs to address."

The TFL is located north of Powell River near Toba Inlet. Slocan’s operating areas are located on both sides of Slocan Lake, from South Slocan to Nakusp.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board reports to the public and government about compliance with the Forest Practices Code and the achievement of its intent. The Board’s main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

VICTORIA - The Forest Practices Board will hold a public meeting in Prince George on Tuesday, November 3, 1998, at the Prince George Civic Centre at 7:30 pm. The Board will make a brief presentation and then invite questions and comments from the public.

"The Board is responsible for reporting to the public on how the Forest Practices Code is working and how well industry and government are following the Code," said the Chair of the Forest Practices Board, Keith Moore, "What we have seen in the past three years leads us to conclude that there has been a general improvement in forest practices in British Columbia and this improvement is associated with the introduction of the Code."

"Our audits and investigations have found generally high levels of compliance with the Code, but there are exceptions," said Moore. "We recognize that the Code is continually evolving and improving and where we have identified problems, we have made recommendations which contribute to the improvement of forest practices."

The Board places a high priority on holding meetings in different communities around the province. It gives the Board an opportunity to hear the public’s views about the Code and to explain the Board’s findings and observations. The Board has held similar meetings in Terrace, Port McNeil and Kelowna, and previously visited Prince George in 1996.

The Board is currently involved in a number of matters in the Prince George Forest Region. Three complaints from the public are under investigation: a complaint about the effects of logging on the visual quality of Williston and Carbon Creeks; a complaint that a forest development plan in Herrick Creek does not meet Code requirements for cutblock size, green-up and stream identification; and a complaint that operational plans in the Robson Valley Forest District permit excessive clearcutting and fail to address biodiversity concerns. The Board is also conducting a special investigation of forest planning and practices in the Fort St. James Forest District, in response to a number of complaints on that issue.

In 1997, the Board released the results of an audit of Finlay Forest Industries in MacKenzie. Audits of Plateau Forest Products in Vanderhoof, and Canfor’s Fort St. James Division have been completed but not yet released. The final report for the Plateau audit is expected by year-end, and the Canfor audit should be released in early 1999.

The Board has also been involved in a number of appeals of administrative penalties and orders to the Forest Appeals Commission, made by licensees in the Prince George Forest Region. Issues in these appeals have included: interpretation of the definition of a "stream", due diligence as a defence when a sub-contractor contravenes the Code, redundant penalties, double jeopardy, government actions contributing to a contravention of the Code, and the right to be heard when a remediation order is issued.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Communicating with the public is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities are investigating Code related complaints from the public, auditing forest practices, conducting special investigations of Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Today, the Forest Practices Board began an audit of the Arrow Forest District’s Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP). The SBFEP operates throughout the Arrow District, which is centred around the Arrow Lakes and the Columbia River, and has four main operating areas near Whatshan Creek, Trout Lake, Blueberry Creek and Eagle Creek.

The audit will examine recent timber harvesting, road construction, maintenance and deactivation activities and operational planning for compliance with the Forest Practices Code.

The Board’s audit is being conducted by a team of five, including professional foresters and auditors. The team will be in the licence area over the next two weeks performing office and field examinations of numerous timber harvest areas and many kilometres of roads.

The licence was selected randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance. The Forest Practices Board is required to carry out periodic independent audits to determine government and forest company compliance with the planning and forest practices requirements of the Forest Practices Code. This is the last of nine compliance audits the Board is undertaking in 1998.

Once the field work has been completed, the audit team will provide a report on the findings to the members of the Forest Practices Board. The Board will then prepare its report and recommendations. Any party that may be adversely affected by the Board’s report must be given an opportunity to respond before the report is finalized and released to the public and the government.

This is Board’s second audit in the Arrow Forest District. Earlier this summer, Slocan Forest Products’ forest license was randomly selected for audit. That report has not yet been completed.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Auditing of forest practices and the appropriateness of government enforcement under the Code is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities include investigating public complaints; conducting special investigations of any Code related forestry issues; participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Today, the Forest Practices Board began an audit of Forest Licence A40873, held by Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor). The audit will examine the Fort St. James division of this licence. The operating areas for this division are located near Fort St. James, northwest in the Takla Lake area and east towards Highway 97.

The audit will examine recent timber harvesting, silviculture, fire protection, road construction, maintenance and deactivation activities, and operational planning for compliance with the Forest Practices Code.

The Board’s audit is being conducted by a team of nine, including professional foresters and auditors. The team will be in the licence area over the next two weeks performing office and field examinations of numerous timber harvest areas and many kilometres of roads.

The licence was selected randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance. The Forest Practices Board is required to carry out periodic independent audits to determine government and forest company compliance with the planning and forest practices requirements of the Forest Practices Code. The Board is undertaking nine compliance audits in 1998, this is the eighth.

Once the field work has been completed, the audit team will provide a report on the findings to the members of the Forest Practices Board. The Board will then prepare its report and recommendations.

Any party that may be adversely affected by the Board’s report must be given an opportunity to respond before the report is finalized and released to the public and the government.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Auditing of forest practices and the appropriateness of government enforcement under the Code is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities include investigating public complaints; conducting special investigations of any Code related forestry issues; participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Today, the Forest Practices Board began an audit of Tree Farm Licence 41, held by West Fraser Mills Ltd. and managed by the company’s Terrace office. The operating area for this licence includes the upper Kitimat Valley, the Douglas Channel to Hawkesbury Island and the Devastation Channel area.

The audit will examine recent timber harvesting, silviculture, fire protection, road construction, maintenance and deactivation activities, and operational planning activities for compliance with the Forest Practices Code.

The Board’s audit is being conducted by a team of eight, including professional foresters, a biologist, a geologist and auditors. The team will be in the licence area over the next three weeks performing office and field examinations of numerous timber harvest areas and many kilometres of roads.

The licence was selected randomly, not on the basis of location or past performance. The Forest Practices Board is required to carry out periodic independent audits to determine government and forest company compliance with the planning and forest practices requirements of the Code. This is the seventh of nine compliance audits the Board will undertake in 1998.

Once the field work has been completed, the audit team will provide a report on the findings to the members of the Forest Practices Board. The Board will then prepare its report and recommendations. Any party that may be adversely affected by the Board’s report must be given an opportunity to respond before the report is finalized and released to the public and the government.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Auditing of forest practices and the appropriateness of government enforcement under the Code is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities include investigating public complaints; conducting special investigations of any Code related forestry issues; participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

VICTORIA - Although Tolko Industries’ timber harvesting and road practices generally met the requirements of the Forest Practices Code, certain forest practices in sensitive riparian areas next to streams were a problem, according to a Forest Practices Board audit report released today.

The audit identified several instances involving riparian areas where the Code was not followed. In two cases the Board found the ministries of Forests and Environment, Lands and Parks had responsibilities for the non-compliance because they approved the plans for the activities. The forest practices in question took place during the period of transition to the Code requirements and were influenced by a need to control an ongoing outbreak of spruce bark beetle.

In all other respects, Tolko’s forest practices met Code requirements. "The Board has been advised that both Tolko and the ministries have changed their procedures since the time these activities took place," said Vice Chair, Cindy Pearce, "We encourage them to continue with improvements to protect riparian features while removing trees to address beetle infestations."

The audit also identified some concerns with the maintenance of forest service roads by the Ministry of Forests and the Board has recommended that the ministry address the identified problems.

The Board does not have the ability to impose fines or penalties as a result of its audit findings. In addition to the recommendation about road maintenance, the Board has also recommended Tolko and the ministries make further improvements to their procedures for logging in riparian areas to ensure the Code is followed in future.

The audit examined timber harvesting and road construction activities, and associated operational planning, carried out by Tolko on Forest License A18696 between June 1996 and June 1997.

The licence is managed by Tolko’s Nicola Division in Merritt and includes an operating area which extends south of Merritt to Manning Park, and an area in the northeast corner of the Merritt Timber Supply Area, in the vicinity of Glimpse/Peter Hopes Lakes.

Two other audits were also released by the Board today: West Fraser Mills in Williams Lake and Slocan Group - Radium Division in Invermere.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Auditing of forest practices and the appropriateness of government enforcement under the Code is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities include investigating public complaints; conducting special investigations of any Code related forestry issues; participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

VICTORIA - West Fraser Mills Ltd. is meeting the Forest Practices Code requirements, except that its forest development plan did not include a strategy to address the risk from mountain pine beetle infestations, according to a Forest Practices Board audit that was released today.

While the company did not comply with a Code requirement to develop a management strategy to protect forest resources from the beetle, the Board recognized that West Fraser is not solely responsible. Government also has to play a role by developing a broader strategy to manage the risk to forest resources across the entire Williams Lake timber supply area (TSA).

"This is one of the best audit results for field forestry practices the Board has seen to date. The company’s performance on the ground is noteworthy." said Board Vice Chair, Cindy Pearce.

The Board has recommended that the Ministry of Forests continue to develop a comprehensive beetle management strategy for the Williams Lake TSA. The Board also recommends that West Fraser include a beetle management strategy in the next forest development plan for its forest licence.

The audit examined operational planning, timber harvesting, silviculture, forest protection, and road construction, maintenance and deactivation activities carried out by West Fraser on Forest License A20020 between September 1996 and August 1997.

The licence includes operating areas in the north west portion of the Williams Lake Forest District and the eastern portion of the Chilcotin Forest District (located in Alexis Creek).

The Board does not have the ability to impose fines or penalties as a result of its audit findings, but may make recommendations, as they have in this case.

Two other audit reports were also released by the Board today: Slocan Forest Products - Radium Division in Invermere, and Tolko Forest Industries - Nicola Division in Merritt.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent agency established in 1995 that provides reports to three ministers and the public about compliance with the Code and the achievement of its intent. Auditing of forest practices and the appropriateness of government enforcement under the Code is one of its key roles. Other important responsibilities include investigating public complaints; conducting special investigations of any Code related forestry issues; participating in administrative reviews and appeals; and providing reports to the public and government on Board activities, findings and recommendations.