VICTORIA – The board will audit the forest practices of Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd., on Forest Licence A18698, starting Oct. 17, 2011.

Auditors will examine all activities regulated by the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act, including planning, roads, harvesting, silviculture, fire preparedness and hazard abatement.

The licence lies within the Merritt Timber Supply Area, in the Cascades District, near the communities of Princeton, Tulameen and Hedley.

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 land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement. This is the board’s 10th audit of the 2011 season. Auditors have travelled far and wide, auditing activities near communities including Squamish, Mackenzie, Fort St. James, Kamloops, the Sunshine Coast, Burns Lake, Creston, Tofino and Quesnel.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

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