Board to audit government’s enforcement in the Columbia Forest District

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit three government ministries to assess whether they are appropriately enforcing forest practices legislation in the Columbia Forest District, the Forest Practices Board announced today.

The ministries to be audited are Forests and Range; Environment; and Tourism, Culture and the Arts. Each of these ministries is responsible for enforcing aspects of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. The audit will take place October 5 to 9.

The areas being audited are located primarily in the Golden and Revelstoke areas, and include the Revelstoke Timber Supply Area (TSA), Golden TSA, Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 55, TFL 56 and the northwest portion of TFL 23.

The audit will review the enforcement activities, systems and procedures used by government to encourage compliance with forest practices legislation. These activities include risk assessments, inspection of forest operations, investigations of possible contraventions, determinations (e.g., remediation orders and penalties) and follow-up.

The board carries out periodic independent audits to see if government is appropriately enforcing provincial forest practices legislation.

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.
• audits appropriateness of government enforcement.
• investigates public complaints.
• undertakes special investigations of current forestry issues.
• participates in administrative appeals.
• makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.

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