Features Health and Safety Sawmilling
Board to audit BCTS operations in Dawson Creek TSA

May 29, 2018 - The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area (TSA) portion of the Peace-Liard Business Area, during the week of June 4, 2018.

Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning, carried out from June 1, 2016, to June 8, 2018, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

The audit area is located in the Dawson Creek TSA, in the Peace Natural Resource District, and includes the communities of Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Taylor, Hudson’s Hope and Pouce Coupe. The TSA covers about 2.3 million hectares in northeastern B.C., with an allowable annual cut of 1.86 million cubic metres. BCTS’s allocation is 401,106 cubic metres.

This BCTS program was chosen randomly for audit from among all the BCTS programs in the province. The board normally audits two BCTS programs each year.

Once the audit work is completed, a 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 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.

May 29, 2018  By BC Forest Practices Board