Tag Archives: British Columbia

British Columbia’s Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson applauded today’s decision of the Legislative Assembly to form a Special Committee on Timber Supply to examine and make recommendations about mid-term timber supply in British Columbia, as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestation.

The committee will be conducting public consultations and has been asked to deliver a report by Aug. 15 this year.

The committee’s terms of reference are to specifically consider recommendations that could increase timber supply, including direction on the potential scope of changes to land-use objectives, rate of harvest and conversion of volume-based tenures to area-based tenures. The committee will also consider whether any changes to legislation are required.

In making its recommendations, the committee will need to consider the Province’s commitment to balance the budget and maintain competitive electricity rates; the need to maintain high environmental standards and protect critical wildlife habitat; orderly transition for communities to lower harvest levels; maintain a competitive forest industry; First Nations’ titles and rights; and the softwood lumber agreement and other trade agreements.

The committee is expected to hold its first meeting this week to elect its chair, develop a work plan and a schedule for public consultations.

The members of the Special Committee on Timber Supply are:

•  John Rustad, MLA Nechako Lakes (convenor)
•  Donna Barnett, MLA Cariboo-Chilcotin
•  Eric Foster, MLA Vernon-Monashee
•  Ben Stewart, MLA Westside-Kelowna
•  Harry Bains, MLA Surrey-Newton
•  Norm Macdonald, MLA Columbia River-Revelstoke
•  Bill Routley, MLA Cowichan Valley

The committee will be supported by a technical advisory committee that will include former provincial chief foresters Larry Pedersen and Jim Snetsinger.

Source: Province of British Columbia

The BC Safety Authority (BCSA) has issued a safety order relating to regulated electrical equipment ordering sawmills to verify that they have valid operating permits in place, that proper maintenance procedures are being carried out, and that incidents are being reported as per existing BCSA directives.

This measure is precautionary and part of the BCSA’s ongoing investigation into the recent explosions and resulting fires at two BC sawmills that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to workers. This safety order supports a directive order issued last week by WorkSafeBC.

Stephen Hinde, Electrical Safety Manager at the BCSA, issued the safety order as a precautionary measure to be acted upon without delay. “Although the investigations into the two recent fatal incidents are ongoing and the causes of those incidents have not been identified, this safety order is aimed at minimizing the risk of fire or explosion related to regulated electrical equipment being a potential combustion or ignition source in wood processing operations.”

Hinde explained further, “Electrical equipment is used throughout sawmills and during normal operation can create heat and electrical sparks. This could act as an ignition source for a fire or explosion, so it’s important that mills ensure they are following the Safety Standards Act.”

While this safety order is specific to owners and operators of sawmills around electrical equipment, other regulated technologies are also still under investigation at Babine Forest Products, including propane and natural gas. The BCSA is not yet prepared to rule out propane or natural gas as either an ignition or fuel source at Babine while the investigation is ongoing.

The investigation related to the Babine incident is currently in the analysis phase with no predetermined end date. A BCSA team is currently supporting the Lakeland investigation, which is in the information gathering stage. In both the Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills investigation, WorkSafe BC has taken the lead on site control and incident investigation.

As well as issuing this safety order, the following precautionary measures have been taken by the BCSA since the explosion at Babine in January:

• Beginning in February, gas safety officers with the BCSA conducted assessments of gas operating permits in sawmills and industrial sites across BC. This action was taken to verify valid permits, and check technical elements of the gas equipment. This review did not identify any systemic concerns.
• In early April, electrical safety officers with the BCSA began to conduct a survey of electrical operating permits at a select group of wood processing plants to assess the safety of regulated electrical equipment and the effectiveness of mandated electrical maintenance programs. It is anticipated this work will be complete in May.

Supplementing the general workplace safety measures ordered by WorkSafeBC, the following items are prescribed in the BCSA safety order (the full and complete text can be found at www.safetyauthority.ca under Industry Alerts.) which applies specifically to regulated electrical equipment:

1. Verify that a valid operating permit is in place.
2. Develop a process to report incidents involving electrical equipment or electrical work.
3. Report any incidents that have occurred since Jan.1, 2010 and that have not been previously reported.
4. Verify that the interior of enclosures of electrical motor control centres, power distribution centres, or similar switchgear are clear and free of known or potential combustible or explosive materials such as wood dust.
5. Verify that electrical cabinet doors and access covers for energized electrical equipment are closed and secured.
6. Verify that ventilation systems for electrical equipment enclosures are clean, working properly and installed in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Submit a completed copy of the attached Safety Order Response Form to the BC Safety Authority no later than July 13, 2012.

The BC Safety Authority keeps people safe by promoting the safe installation and use of technical equipment. The Safety Authority also issues permits and licences, educates, and conducts on-site inspections in high-risk situations.

Source: BC Safety Authority

A confidential report was leaked this week indicating the British Columbia government is expecting north-central B.C. to lose 32% – 67% of its timber supply due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic without a mitigation plan.

What are British Columbia’s mitigation options?

• Forest Management – intensive silviculture and stand fertilization
• Harvesting – in areas currently considered uneconomical – due to tree size, volume, or species composition
• Harvesting – in areas managed for non-timber values such as biodiversity, wildlife habitat and scenic areas

Currently, in timber supply areas of Lakes, Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake, there is estimated to be sufficient timber, harvested at pre-beetle levels, until 2020. However, most of that timber is pine that has already been dead for 5-10 years. It is not currently economical to harvest dead pine with a long haul distance from a mill. With the haul distance factored in, there is an estimate of 1.5 years of economically feasible harvest supply in Quesnel, ranger to about 5 years in the Prince George timber supply area.

Whatever mitigation options are used by the provincial government, they indicate in their report that they wish to make their decisions before December 31, 2012 to avoid conflict with the May 2013 election.

Listen to Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources chat with CBC’s Chris Walker.

Read the report – Mid-Term Timber Supply Project for the Minister and Deputy Mister Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

British Columbia released its Forest Sector Strategy today.

Titled “Our Natural Advantage, Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia”, the strategy aims to build upon the report of the Working Roundtable on Forestry to support a more vibrant sector that supports employment in every part of the province.

The Working Roundtable on Forestry has identified six priorities:

1. The commitment to using wood first.
2. Growing trees, sequestering carbon, and ensuring land is available to produce a range of forest products.
3. Creating a globally competitive, market-based operating climate.
4. Embracing innovation and diversification.
5. Supporting prosperous rural forest economies.
6. First Nations becoming partners in forestry.

Some of the actions announced today include:

Wood First

• B.C. will capture larger shares of the non-residential and multi-family housing construction sectors in the U.S. The goal is to export 400 million board feet of lumber to the U.S. non-residential market in 2012/13.
• Expand six-storey wood frame construction to non-residential applications.
• Construction of the Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George to stand as a wood first icon and centre of excellence for product development.

Growing Timber

• Ongoing investment in reforestation and silviculture.
• Innovative silviculture partnerships and forest carbon restoration projects. A request for proposals was issued in January 2012 to reforest 1,000 hectares of Crown land damaged by mountain pine beetle and wildfire.
• High use of select tree seed (from orchards) in Crown land reforestation.
• Implementation of landscape fire management planning. This includes targeted harvesting to create firebreaks, removal of hazardous fuels, and prescribed burning to support healthy ecosystems.

Stay Globally Competitive

• The Expert Panel on Tax will complete its formal review of B.C.’s tax competitiveness by Aug. 31, 2012.
• The regulatory framework for forest resources will be improved. This includes market sensitivity of the timber pricing system, streamlining processes, and enhancing client-centred service.
• BC Timber Sales opportunities. Innovative, area-based timber sales will minimize waste and get as much value as possible from timber harvest sites.
• FibreConnections BC and WoodSource BC will improve investors’ access to wood fibre.
• Log export policies are being reviewed.

Increase Innovation 

• Implement the recommendations of the MLA Bio-Economy Committee.
• Continued funding for FPInnovations to identify and demonstrate opportunities to lower investment barriers, and increase the successful adoption of bio-products and services.
• Increased utilization of coastal hemlock and balsam fir trees for new product uses such as decking and sound abatement fencing.
• Genomics research to increase forest resiliency in response to changing climate and environmental conditions.
• Research to create lignin (chemical compound found in woody biomass) with different consistencies and properties to diversify the range of pulp products offered by B.C.

Strengthen Diversity

• Increase softwood exports to China by 20 per cent in 2012/13.
• Increase exports to Japan by 10 per cent in 2012/13 with lumber for earthquake and tsunami reconstruction as well as larger public and institutional building projects.
• Capitalize on housing trend in South Korea for healthier, more energy-efficient homes.
• Heighten demand in India for B.C. softwood compared to tropical hardwood products.

Support Rural Forest Economies

• Continue to create community forest agreement opportunities.
• Continue to expand of the woodlot program.
• Create new types of forest tenures for smaller operators to harvest roadside debris left behind by primary harvesters.
• Develop innovative strategies to deal with worker recruitment and retention challenges.

First Nations Forestry

• Thirteen new Forest Tenure Opportunity Agreements expected to be reached in 2012/13.
• Up to eight new First Nations Woodland Licences awarded in 2012/13.
• Twenty-two more revenue-sharing agreements expected in 2012/13.

Our Natural Advantage, Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia (view the Strategy)

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is accusing British Columbia of under-charging coastal forest companies for timber harvested on Crown land.

Their argument is based on the claim that the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations hasn’t updated its coastal stumpage data for 3 years.

The US lobby group said the amount of this undercharge is about $70 million a year.

The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has responded to the lobby group stating that the coastal market pricing system was established before the softwood lumber agreement was signed and is grandfathered into the agreement. Further, under the system, updates are implemented periodically, not according to a “regular” schedule.

Read more:
B.C. coastal loggers violating softwood lumber deal, U.S. claims (Vancouver Sun)

There is a new joint council, called the Haida Gwaii Management Council, that has been established between the Haida and the British Columbia government to govern the forest management of Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands).

The new council’s first decision has been to reduce the annual allowable harvest level by 48% to 929,000 cubic metres.

“This new AAC which is a 48% reduction from the prior AACs reflects the spirit and intent of the recently signed Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement and the Kunst’aa guu – Kunst’aayah Reconciliation Protocol. This is an historic moment for the people of Haida Gwaii since it is the first time that the decision about how much commercial forest to cut on our islands has been made by anybody other than the Government of British Columbia,” said Trevor Russ, an appointed Haida Gwaii Management Council (HGMC) Member and elected member of the Council of the Haida Nation Executive.

“It is a unanimous consensus-based joint decision of the four Appointed Members of Council” said Council Chair Derek Thompson. “This is the first decision by the HGMC which is mandated by the Council of the Haida Nation and the Government of British Columbia to make strategic land and natural resource decisions for Haida Gwaii”.

The allocation of the new harvest levels to the various forest tenures on the Islands will be set by British Columbia government decision makers in the near future. Those allocations cannot amount to more than the 929,000 cubic metres as determined by the Council. The Council decision also identifies a number of recommendations for monitoring, information collection and planning by the governments.

To reach their decision the Haida Gwaii Management Council worked with the Joint Technical Working Group of the Council of the Haida Nation and BC government staff, to undertake a formal analysis of the Islands’ forests and forestry practices. The HGMC also invited, received, and considered public input in their decision.

All of the technical information and the public input is documented in the “Rationale, for Allowable Annual Cut Determination for Haida Gwaii”. It can be accessed at www.haidagwaiimanagementcouncil.ca

Hard copies of the documents are available from: admin@haidagwaiimanagementcouncil.ca

The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is planning a prescribed burn in the Gilpin Creek and Morrissey Creek areas later this month. An information session about the project will be held on April 12.

The 25-hectare prescribed burn is part of the provincial government’s strategy to restore and maintain forest and range ecosystems. This controlled burn will help re-establish appropriate ecological conditions, maintain winter range forage for grazing animals and reduce forest fuel loads.

The prescribed burn will take place about five kilometres east of Grand Forks. Smoke and flames may be visible from locations in Grand Forks and along Highway 3.

No specific date has been set for this prescribed burn, but it is planned to occur during the last two weeks of April, depending on weather and site conditions. This ecosystem restoration burn will proceed only if weather and fire behaviour conditions will allow for low to moderate fire intensity and quick smoke dissipation. If conditions are not suitable, this prescribed burn may not occur this year.

The goal of the burn is to mimic a naturally occurring ground fire and reduce the level of dead and combustible material in grassland and open forest areas. Removal of these forest fuels helps limit the threat of catastrophic wildfires. Fire can also discourage insect infestations and help fire-adapted plant species reproduce, such as grasses that thrive in newly cleared areas or trees whose seeds are only released when exposed to heat.

A drop-in information session about the prescribed burn will be held on April 12, 2012 at the Service BC office in Grand Forks (7290 Second Ave.), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When it becomes available, video of the burn will be posted on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Source: British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

British Columbia‘s Forest Minister Steve Thomson has rejected the recommendations his own Timber Export Advisory Committee dozens of times in the past 3 months, resulting in millions of dollars worth of raw logs being sent to Asia rather than to B.C. mills.

In December, the Timber Export Advisory Committee ruled that logs that were being considered for export should instead be sold to independent manufacturer Teal Jones of Surrey.

Minister Thomson overruled this decision and the logs were sold to an overseas mill.

“The law in B.C., in effect since 1906, is that logs cannot be shipped out of the province unless they are considered ‘surplus’ to B.C.’s needs,” said British Columbia’s New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix. “The committee plainly ruled that these logs did not meet that surplus test and should not be exported.

“What the minister has done is make the Timber Export Advisory Committee irrelevant,” said Norm Macdonald, the New Democrat forest critic. “He’s essentially declared open season on raw log exports, even though we know that costs jobs.

Hanif Karmally, chief financial officer for the Teal-Jones Group, said, “There is room for exports, but I think the significant increase in exports is going to ensure nobody can put up another mill in B.C.”

The Teal-Jones Group’s sawmill in Surrey, B.C. is facing down time this week due to a shortage of fibre. Karmally said the company could hire another 100 to 115 workers if they had more logs.

Meanwhile, buyers from China, Japan, and South Korea are buying B.C.’s logs in record volumes, and at premium prices. Raw log exports have increased by 58% from 2010 to 2011 and 136% since 2009. More than 40% of all logs cut on the coast were exported in 2011.

Not everyone is in favour of reducing the export of raw logs.

Truck Loggers’ Association executive director Dave Lewis said B.C. has restricted coastal log exports for decades, but it has not solved the industry’s basic problems.

“Domestic buyers can only afford to pay $60 for a log that costs $78 to harvest,” Lewis said.

“To put things very bluntly from a Terrace area perspective, if log exports were banned today, we might as well close the doors and throw away the keys,” said Bill Sauer of the North West Loggers Association.

In his defense, Minister Thomson said he rejected the advice of his committee because his government is in the midst of a policy review on raw log exports and the committee appeared to be changing policy on its own by pushing more wood to local mills.

He said his government needs to find the “appropriate balance” to ensure harvesting jobs are maintained as well as processing jobs. He is set to visit the Teal-Jones operations next week. “The Teal-Jones boys know we are looking at this policy, what we are telling them is that it is under review.”

Read more:
Asian log buyers outbidding B.C. mills (BC Local News)
Forest minister overrules his own committee, exports raw logs (New Democrats)
Liberals ignoring committee on raw log exports: Dix (Vancouver Sun)
B.C. raw log exports double as local mills go without (CBC)
Minister costing logging jobs, critics say (The Globe and Mail)

British Columbia has made an amendment to section 47.1 of their Forest Act that will allow private land to be removed from a woodlot.

All potential private land removals will be at the discretion of the minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations (or a delegate determined by the minister) following public consultation. The following requirements must also be met:

• The private land has been part of a woodlot licence for at least 10 years.
• The woodlot holder has provided notification and advertised their intent.
• The licence is in good standing with no overdue payments, no major contraventions of forestry legislation, or outstanding obligations.
• Access to Crown land via existing roads on the private land has been adequately addressed.
• Private land removed from an existing woodlot can’t be used by the owners to apply on new woodlot licence opportunities.

The policy change was requested by the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations. The Union of British Columbia Municipalities was consulted, and helped develop the guidelines for a private land deletion.

Most, but not all, woodlot licences include private land. Some licensees have expressed a desire to diversify their operations and pursue other economic opportunities with their private land such as agriculture and ranching.  Others have indicated they want to sell their private land for financial reasons such as retirement planning.

The amount of private land in an individual woodlot varies, ranging from zero hectares up to 1,400 hectares. The average area of private land per individual woodlot is 108 hectares.

Source: Policy change opens up options for woodlot licensees (Government of British Columbia)

Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 49 in British Columbia will be decreased from 580,000 cubic metres to 330,000 cubic metres.

In December 2005, the allowable annual cut was increased from 380,000 cubic metres to 580,000 cubic metres to recover economic value from damaged timber. The decrease reflects that logging of mountain pine beetle-attacked timber is almost complete.

The lower cut reflects the transition to a lower mid-term timber supply expected to occur before beetle-attacked stands recover and second-growth stands reach merchantable size. The lower cut also provides for other values, like wildlife habitat, riparian areas and old growth.

The new cut includes a partition to ensure that the areas outside of the Brown’s Creek watershed are not overharvested. Tolko Industries Ltd., which owns the logging rights for Tree Farm Licence 49, has no immediate plans to harvest in Brown’s Creek.

Tree Farm Licence 49 covers 141,975 hectares of Crown land west of Okanagan Lake near Kelowna, Vernon and Armstrong. About 116,165 hectares are considered suitable for timber harvesting.

The chief forester’s allowable annual cut determination is available from the Okanagan Shuswap Resource District office in Vernon or online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/