BC Timber Sales audit finds issues in Clearwater
VICTORIA – An audit of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sale licence (TSL) holders in the Clearwater Field Unit portion of BC Timber Sales’ Kamloops Business Area found general compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to an audit report.
“BCTS complied with requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. However, auditors found one of the TSL holders did not ensure a section of the Oliver Creek forest service road was safe for industrial use, and several TSL holders’ practices for assessing fire hazard require improvement,” said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board.
“The section of forest service road is unstable and has had several landslides that deposited sediment into Oliver Creek, which is an important fish stream,” Kriese said. “Since the audit took place, the ministry has closed the road.”
The area audited extends from Adams Lake north toward Valemount and includes the communities of Clearwater, Vavenby, Avola and Blue River. Over the past two years, timber sale licensees have harvested about 500,000 cubic metres from TSLs in the Clearwater, Avola, Blue River, Lempriere and Albreda areas.
This audit took place within the traditional territories of the Secwepemctsín, Ktunaxa and the Lheidli T’enneh of the Dakelh (Carrier)-speaking Peoples.
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 and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
