Board to audit BCTS operations in the Skeena area

VICTORIA – During the week of June 21, 2021, the Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licence holders in the Coast Mountains Natural Resource District portion of the Skeena Business Area.

This BCTS program is one of two chosen randomly each year for audit from all the BCTS programs in the province. Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out between June 1, 2019, and June 26, 2021, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

This audit will focus on BCTS’s operations in the Coast Mountains District portion of the Skeena Business Area, where BCTS has an allowable annual cut of 1.2 million cubic metres. The area is
on the B.C. mainland east of Haida Gwaii. Major communities include Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, New Aiyansh and Stewart.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, audits will be carried out in compliance with the provincial health officer’s recommended precautions to keep employees, the auditees and local communities safe.

Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. 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.

Contact:

Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899