VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest planning and practices of Stuwix Resources Ltd., in the Cascades Forest District.

The audit will examine Stuwix Resources’ operations on forest licence A65006, located mainly to the north, south, and east of Merritt, in the Merritt Timber Supply Area.

Auditors will examine operational planning; construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads; timber harvesting; silviculture; and fire protection activities carried out between June 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006, to assess compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

The board carries out periodic independent audits to see if government and forest companies are complying with the Province’s forest practices legislation. Stuwix Resources Ltd. was selected randomly, and not on the basis of location or level of performance.

The three-member audit team will be in the area from two to five days, beginning June 26, 2006. Once the fieldwork is done, the audit 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 an independent public watchdog that reports to the public about compliance with the FRPA and the achievement of its intent. The board’s main roles are:

• Auditing forest practices of government and licence holders on public lands.
• Auditing government enforcement of FRPA.
• Investigating public complaints.
• Undertaking special investigations of forestry issues.
• Participating in administrative appeals.
• Providing reports on board activities, findings and recommendations.

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