BC Timber Sales undergoes audit

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Skeena-Stikine Natural Resource District portion of the Babine Business Area from June 5 to 9.

Auditors will examine harvesting, road and bridge construction and maintenance, silviculture, fire protection, and associated planning for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act
and the Wildfire Act.

The audit includes all forestry activity from June 2015 to June 2017. The audit area is located within the Bulkley Timber Supply Area, which is located in northwestern BC and covers about
760 000 hectares. The area includes the communities of Smithers, Telkwa, Moricetown and Fort Babine.

This BCTS business area was chosen randomly for audit from among all the BCTS business areas in the province. The board audits two BCTS business areas each year.

Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report
and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.

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.

Contact:

Darlene Oman, Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899