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VICTORIA – British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) and timber sales licence holders in the Lakes Timber Supply Area (TSA) have received a clean audit, the Forest Practices Board reported today.

“The audit found BCTS and its timber sale licence holders complied in all significant respects with forest practices legislation. The audit did find two minor instances of poor harvesting practices that caused excess soil disturbance,” said board chair Bruce Fraser. “However, the board is encouraged by the steps the local BCTS office has taken in response to these findings, including conducting a soil disturbance survey; hiring a second compliance technician; and extending the term of timber sale licences.”

The compliance audit examined the operational planning; timber harvesting; silviculture; road construction, maintenance, and deactivation; and fire protection activities carried out by BCTS and its timber sale licence holders in the Lakes TSA, located in Burns Lake, for the period from July 1, 2004, to July 29, 2005.

BCTS is an independent organization within the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, created to develop Crown timber for auction to establish market price and capture the value of the asset for the public. Timber sale licence holders are generally small companies that carry out harvesting, while BCTS is responsible for operational planning, silviculture, and major road construction.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent public watchdog that reports to the public about compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and the achievement of its intent. The board’s main roles under FRPA 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.