Board to audit PIR forestry operations in Bulkley TSA

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest practices of West Fraser Mills Ltd, Pacific Inland Resources Division, Forest Licence A16830, from July 5 to 10.

The forest licence is in the Bulkley Timber Supply Area, which is in the Skeena Stikine Forest District. Auditors will examine planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture and fire protection activities for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. Forest Licence A16830 has an annual cut of 392,313 cubic metres per year.

Important resources and management issues in the area include salvage logging of mountain pine beetle-killed trees, and protection of fisheries, mountain caribou habitat and significant viewscapes around Smithers and the Bulkley and Telkwa rivers.

The audit area is subject to the Bulkley Land and Resource Management Plan, which provides broad direction for sustainable use of Crown land and resources, as well as the Bulkley Valley Sustainable Resource Management Plan, which presents objectives and strategies for resource management within the LRMP.

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.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

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