Arrowsmith, Summary of Public Input

Public Review Process and Response

District Staff actively solicited public input on the Timber Supply Review in the Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area through the following actions:

• copies of the three documents were mailed out local interest groups, the media, stakeholders, elected officials, government agencies and First Nations

• a letter accompanying the mail-out offered group or individual meetings to discuss the Timber Supply Review. The Discussion Paper also included a response form, which readers were encouraged to complete and return to the district manager

• an information display was set up at the fall fair in Port Alberni

• briefings were provided to government agencies and MLAs Dale Lovick, Gerard Janssen, and Leonard Krog

• five open houses were held (Table 1) following advertisements in newspapers in Victoria, Duncan, Parksville, Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Tofino

As Table 1 shows, 38 individuals attended the open houses. The Forest Service also received two completed response forms and three written submissions (see Appendix 1). A major forest company commissioned a consultant to review the assumptions and methodology in the Arrowsmith Timber Supply Analysis Report, and to test alternative analysis inputs. This review is referred to as the "industry review" in this report.

Table 1: Participation in public information sessions