An audit of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence (TSL) holders in the Boundary area, including Grand Forks, Greenway and Midway has found significant issues with road and bridge maintenance.
The audit into the BCTS in the Kootenay Business area flagged two issues of non-compliance.
These issues included not inspecting any high-risk or very high-risk roads, and only a limited number of moderate-risk roads during the audit period, which is not compliant with the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
“Most of these roads were built decades ago before the advent of modern road-building techniques,” said Keith Atkinson, board chair of B.C.’s Forest Practices Board.
“Regular inspections are necessary to identify needed repairs that can prevent or reduce the risk of erosion or landslides occurring, especially on these higher-risk roads.”
Since the audit was completed, BCTS has improved its road-maintenance system.
As well as finding that TSL holder Tolko Industries did not repair broken guardrails on a bridge used by industrial traffic during the audit period. This is also not compliant with the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
“Guardrails are an important safety component of bridges because they provide drivers with a physical warning that they are approaching the edge of a bridge,” Atkinson said.
Since the audit was completed, Tolko has replaced the guardrails.
The audit found no concerns with harvesting or silviculture practices and other forestry activities, aside from these issues, were well done. Fire hazards were abated in an effective and timely manner, but TSL holders did not complete fire-hazard assessments on time for the majority of cutblocks sampled.
“Once again, TSL holders failed to meet the fire-hazard assessment timelines required by the wildfire regulations,” Atkinson said. “This unfortunately is a common audit finding and is an area requiring improvement.”
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