As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2017 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the Nadina Natural Resource District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the Board selected 11 woodlot licences near Burns Lake for audit: W0116, W0117, W0128, W0198, W0199, W1534, W1687, W1690, W1691, W2050 and W2065. This report explains what the Board audited and the findings for woodlots W1687, W1690 and W1691.

Burns Lake is surrounded by the Nechako Plateau’s low-rolling terrain and is forested with pine-dominated stands, where salvaging mountain pine beetle damaged timber has been a priority for several years. The government issued cut control exemptions or temporary cut uplifts to many of the woodlot licensees, providing them with the opportunity to salvage the damaged timber and regenerate young, thrifty stands.

The audit found that the licensees’ practices complied with FRPA and the WA, but also found that the licensees’ fire hazard assessment practices require improvement. While licensees are abating fire hazards as a standard practice, they cannot demonstrate that they have been diligent in assessing the hazard, which is a non-compliance with legislation.

As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2017 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the Nadina Natural Resource District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the Board selected 11 woodlot licences near Burns Lake for audit: W0116, W0117, W0128, W0198, W0199, W1534, W1687, W1690, W1691, W2050 and W2065. This report explains what the Board audited and the findings for woodlot W2050.

Burns Lake is surrounded by the Nechako Plateau’s low-rolling terrain, forested with spruce and pine, where salvaging mountain pine beetle damaged timber has been a priority during the last several years. The government issued cut control exemptions or temporary cut uplifts to many of the woodlot licensees, providing them with the opportunity to salvage the damaged timber and regenerate young, thrifty stands.

The audit found that the licensee’s planning and practices complied with FRPA and the WA.

As part of its 2017 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the Fort Nelson Natural Resource District as the location for a compliance audit. Within the district the Board selected forest licence A17007, held by Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor), for audit.

This was a limited scope compliance audit with a one-year timeframe. As this licence is not currently active, only road and bridge maintenance and silviculture activities and obligations carried out between September 1, 2016, and September 13, 2017, were subject to audit.

The auditors found that the bridge maintenance practices carried out by Canfor on FL A17007 did not comply in all significant respects with the requirements of FRPA and related regulations, as of September 2017, and is an adverse opinion for these activities. Auditors found that Canfor’s road maintenance and silviculture activities complied with FRPA.

As part of its 2017 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the North Island Central Coast Natural Resource District as a location for a full scope compliance audit. The Board selected forest licences (FL) A93095 and A93096 and non-replaceable forest licence (NRFL) A75918, held by Gwa’Nak Resources Ltd. for audit.

The activities audited are located approximately 46 kilometres north of Port Hardy, along Belize Inlet and within the Great Bear Rainforest. The audit area is remote and can only be accessed by water or air. Rugged mountains, lakes and numerous inlets, which create operational challenges, characterize the area. It is ecologically complex, supporting a rich and diverse array of wildlife, and contains a mixture of hemlock, balsam and western red cedar tree species.

Audit announcement of BCTS program and timber sale licence holders in the Dawson Creek TSA portion of the Peace-Liard Business Area.