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B.C. Forest Practices Board to audit BCTS operations in Fort St. James area

The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licence holders in the Stuart-Nechako Natural Resource District during the week of June 20, 2022.

Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning, carried out between June 2021 and June 2022, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

The audit area extends from Stuart Lake, near Vanderhoof, about 450 kilometres north to the headwaters of the Skeena River. The district is known for its lakes like Stuart, Pinchi, Talka and Tezzeron, and rivers, such as Tachie and Stuart. These provide tourism, recreation and significant salmon habitat. The main community is Fort St. James and the audit area overlaps the territories of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and the Lheidli-T’enneh, Nadleh Whut’en, Nak’adzli Whut’en, Tl’azt’en, Lake Babine, Yekooche, Stellat’en, Binche Whut’en, Takla, Halfway River, and West Moberly First Nations.

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.

Of the 12 BCTS programs in the province, two BCTS programs are randomly chosen each year for audit. Audit selections are not based on complaints or on the past performance of the BCTS program.

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 the appropriateness of government enforcement.

Learn more: www.bcfpb.ca/release-publications/releases/board-to-audit-bcts-operations-in-fort-st-james-area/