VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest practices of oil and gas companies Apache Canada Ltd. and Devon Canada Corporation near Fort Nelson, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 8, 2010.

The audit will assess compliance of forestry operations carried out during oil and gas-related activities, such as construction of well sites, access roads, borrow pits, pipeline right-of-ways and other facilities.

Located in the Horn River Basin in the Fort Nelson Forest District, the audit area is about 40 kilometres north of Fort Nelson and stretches to the border of the Northwest Territories.

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 has an interest in any forest practices on public land that may impact forest values, regardless of who carries out the practices. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899