Area-Based Audit of Forest Planning and Practices, and Enforcement of the Forest Practices Code in a Portion of the Kispiox Forest District
This is the Board’s report on the area-based audit of licensees’ compliance with, and government’s enforcement of, the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and related regulations, in the western portion of the Kispiox Forest District. As of April 1, 2003, the Kispiox Forest District was incorporated into the new Skeena Stikine Forest District.
The audit examined field activities and obligations of the following parties for the period of July 1, 2001, to July 25, 2002, to determine compliance with Code requirements:
- Kispiox Forest District, including responsibilities of both the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP, now the BC Timber Sales Program) and the district manager
- Bell Pole Company
- C GED Forest Products Ltd.
- Canema Timber Ltd.
- Kipiox Forest Products Ltd.
- Kitwanga Lumber Co. Ltd.
- Skeena Cellulose Inc. (now New Skeena Forest Products Inc.)
- Five woodlot tenure operators
The audit also examined the appropriateness of government’s enforcement of the Code, including planning, management direction and operational activities related to enforcement, for the period July 1, 2001, to July 25, 2002. The activities of two Code enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection were examined. There were no activities within the audit area for which the Ministry of Energy and Mines had enforcement responsibilities.
Area-Based Audit of Forest Planning and Practices, and Enforcement of the Forest Practices Code in a Portion of the Kispiox Forest District
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices on Nisga’a Lands
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices on Nisga’a Lands
As part of its 2002 audit program, the Forest Practices Board audited forest planning and practices on Nisga’a lands. This audit is the second of five annual audits of compliance with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and related regulations (the Code) as well as the forestry-related requirements of the Nisga’a Final Agreement (the Agreement). The Agreement requires the Forest Practices Board to perform compliance audits of forest agreements and licences on Nisga’a lands in each year of a defined five-year transition period that ends on May 10, 2005.
Bridge Design and Construction at Reiseter Creek near Smithers, B.C.
This complaint investigation concerns a bridge built by West Fraser Mills Ltd. (the licensee) across a tributary of Reiseter Creek, 20 kilometres northwest of Smithers. A local resident (the complainant) complained to the Forest Practices Board in December 2001 that:
- The licensee designed and constructed the bridge in contravention of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and its regulations, causing the bridge to fail and possibly damage the creek; and
- The Ministry of Forests did not adequately enforce Code provisions dealing with roads and bridges.
Bridge Design and Construction at Reiseter Creek near Smithers, B.C.
Balancing Bark Beetle Harvesting with Other Resource Values at Babine Lake
The owner of a fishing lodge (the complainant) was concerned about logging that Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (the licensee) was conducting near the shore of Babine Lake, one of the largest lakes in northern British Columbia. The owner feels that logging to control a beetle infestation has damaged the scenic value of the area for lodge clients and for local people who fish on the lake.
Recreational Access to Mount Seaton in the Bulkley Valley
In December 2001, the Ministry of Forests (MOF) approved a silviculture prescription for cutblock CP 551-1 on Mount Seaton, about 40 kilometres north of Smithers in the Bulkley Valley. A local backcountry skier (the complainant) asserts that MOF approved the silviculture prescription without regard to concerns that the cutblock would allow snowmobile access to an alpine area with no history of snowmobile use. The complainant believes that skiers will have to abandon the alpine area if snowmobile use reduces its value for skiing.
