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VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest planning and practices of Triumph Timber Ltd. in the North Coast Forest District.

The audit will examine Triumph Timber’s operations on forest licence A16820, located north and south of Prince Rupert.

Auditors will examine operational planning; timber harvesting; construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads; silviculture; and fire protection activities carried out between Aug. 1, 2005 and Aug. 25, 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. Triumph Timber 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 three to five days, beginning Aug. 21, 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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