Adequacy of a Plan to Harvest Damaged Timber
Was the harvesting of 81-year-old trees near Hall Creek appropriate?
Closing Letter – Twain Creek
Did Construction of Road 200 in the Hasty Creek Watershed Meet Forest Practices Code Requirements?
In July 2000, the Board received a complaint from the Valhalla Wilderness Society – Forest Watch (the complainant) about a road being constructed within the riparian management area of a wetland. Slocan Forest Products Ltd. (the licensee) was constructing road to harvest timber in the Hasty Creek watershed. Hasty Creek supplies domestic water to about 50 residences. Area residents fear that forest practices will damage their water supply, especially if the area’s wetlands are not protected.
Public Request for Copy of Forestry Plan
This investigation is about the adequacy of the public review and comment opportunity for Pope and Talbot’s (the licensee) 2001-2005 forest development plan (FDP) for Tree Farm Licence 8 and Forest Licence A18969, in the Boundary Forest District. The complainant asked the licensee to provide him with a printed copy of the FDP and maps. The licensee offered to e-mail the text of the plan to the complainant, and to provide copies of maps or a printed copy of the FDP for a nominal charge. The complainant did not consider that to be reasonable. The complainant said the plan and maps were essential to understand the FDP, the ministry’s land and forest management agenda, and the subsequent incremental and cumulative impacts on the environment.
CLOSING LETTER: Twain Creek
The complainant said that Babine Forest Products Co. is:
- falling culturally modified trees;
- endangering salmon fry with its barge operating on Babine Lake;
- allowing oil and diesel to leak into lakes and streams;
- improperly disposing of oil and antifreeze;
- allowing buildings to be constructed on traditional territory without permission; and
- planning to spray pesticides in an area where plants are collected for traditional medicine.
- The complaint is also that a guide outfitter has set up operations within traditional territory without permission.
