Board to audit BCTS operations near Kootenay area

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Arrow Field Unit portion of the BCTS Kootenay Business Area, during the week of June 11, 2018.

Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out from June 1, 2017, to June 15, 2018, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

The audit area starts at the United States boundary, and stretches approximately 230 kilometres north toward Revelstoke. The area covers about 1.35 million hectares, and contains the communities of Trail, Rossland, Castelgar, Fruitvale, Salmo, Nakusp, Hills, Burton and Edgewood.

This BCTS program was chosen randomly for audit from among all the BCTS programs in the province. The board normally audits two BCTS programs 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