Change to Section 85 of the Forest Planning & Practices Regulation regarding harvest start up notice

Letter from Tim Sheldon to all Licensees regarding harvest start up
- 65kb Dec 8, 2006

FRPA Transition Extension - Important Information

Good afternoon.  We're writing to advise that government has decided to extend the transition period from the Forest Practices Code to the Forest and Range Practices Act from December 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007 for major licensees and BC Timber Sales. As well, the deadline for woodlot owner/operators to have approved woodlot plans in place and for range users to have range use/stewardship plans in place has been extended another year to Dec. 31, 2007. The attached OIC is provided for your information.

Government and industry staff have put in a phenomenal effort to try to reach the Dec. 31st, 2006 deadline. By the end of November, 25 percent of the allowable annual cut was covered under an approved Forest Stewardship Plan. As well, industry and MoFR have worked hard to ensure that the wood fibre has not been interrupted by processing many FDP amendments, CP's and RP's as an "insurance policy". Government and industry staff are to be commended for this significant effort. Forest Stewardship Plans had been submitted and/or advertised for another 50 per cent of the allowable annual cut. Given this gap, government decided to extend the transition timeframe to provide a buffer to ensure all FSPs received to date are fully reviewed and can be approved. The extension will also give new entrants, including First Nations entering the forest sector through recently awarded forest and range opportunities/agreements, the needed time to draft forest stewardship plans.

Government decided to extend the deadline for woodlot licence plans and range use/range stewardship plans for another year to these smaller licensees more time, given the challenges they face in terms of legislative changes and the mountain pine beetle.

Making the cultural shift from the Forest Practices Code to the Forest and Range Practices Act will continue to require ongoing communication and collaborative efforts from all those involved.

Tim Sheldon
Assistant Deputy Minister
Operations Division
BC Forest Service

Order in Council - Transition Regulation
- 57kb Dec 13, 2006

FIMBC News Update
Resource Road Act Plans Changed

The proposed Resource Road Act has been dropped from the list of Bills to be considered in the current legislative session and, as of now, all of the planning for the Act's implementation has stopped. 

Dear Steering Committee Members, 

"Government decided to withdraw the Resource Road Act from the spring 2008 legislative agenda yesterday afternoon.  This decision was done in order to complete the legislative session by the end of the month and the act simply was not as high a priority as other legislation.  This decision should not be interpretated that regulating resource roads under one act is not a government priority. In fact, the Bill is regarded as sound public policy and an excellent example of collaborative inter-ministerial and inter-agency cooperation.  

At this point, we have not received direction from government regarding the next steps. It is possible that the Steering Committee may be directed to conduct additional stakeholder engagement through the summer of 2008 and bring the act back for spring 2009. However, until further direction is provided, we will be wrapping up the project file and downing tools on this project."

Doug Kelly
Manager, Engineering & Real Estate Operations 

Questions & Answers:

Q: Will the Resoure Road Act (RRA) go ahead at some point?

Probably, at some point, but as Doug Kelly says in his note, he is awaiting further direction.  So if it does go ahead, it will be delayed by at least a year.

Q: What impact will this have on the plans to eliminate the requirement for submission of As Built Road (ABR) information?

The plan to set aside that requirement (ABR) this spring is still proceeding.  

Q: Will something take the place of ABR until RRA is back on the rails?

The purpose of repealing the regulations around ABR reporting is to allow time for the ministry to conduct a review of roads reporting over the next two year period to ensure that it reflects the efficient business processes for both government and industry.   

Following this review, it is expected that new roads reporting requirements will be brought into effect through new regulations to replace the ones that have been recently repealed.

Forest Planning and Practices Regulation (FPPR)
Heads-up Proposed Regulation Change
Tim Sheldon
Assistant Deputy Minister
- Memorandum 65kb March 11, 2008

Incorporation of mixedwood and broadleaves into Forest Stewardship Plan stocking standards, SP amendments and TSR regeneration assumptions

Memorandum
Tim Sheldon
Assistant Deputy Minister
Jim Snetsinger, R.P.F.
Chief Forester
- 246kb May 1, 2008