10.0 Filing of Orders

Advice

The following is put forward by Range, Recreation and Forest Practices Branch staff as their best advice for the consideration of the regional manager, district manager and director of Range, Recreation and Forest Practices Branch when handling and storing orders filed pursuant to the Act, or as directed or recommended in this document.

The Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and this document outline requirements and recommendations for the filing of the following orders:

• orders issued by the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the three ministers to declare a plan or agreement as a higher level plan

• orders issued by the chief forester to establish resource management zones and objectives, sites and trails, or to designate tree farm licence management plans as higher level plans

• orders issued by the district manager to establish landscape units and objectives, sensitive areas and objectives, objectives for sites and trails, or to designate a plan prepared pursuant to section 4(c) of the Ministry of Forests Act as a higher level plan

• orders issued by the regional manager to designate a management plan as a higher level plan.

The regional manager is the primary office for receipt of all orders. Therefore, it is advisable that the system for storing and tracking orders and related information be developed and maintained at each regional office.

It is recommended that regional managers store all orders, higher level plans and associated documents using the ORCS filing system to facilitate access to the information. In addition, the regional staff should establish and maintain an electronic database using ministry standard software. This database will summarize orders and associated documents, and contain the following information:

• the type of order
• the date the initial order took effect
• the date and nature of subsequent orders
• the type of higher level plan
• the titles of associated documents
• the geographical location, if relevant
• other items deemed relevant by the regional or district manager.

Orders should be stored in the appropriate ORCS file prior to the date that they are to take effect. The database should be updated by the time that the order takes effect.

District managers should also maintain a copy of these files and the database and assist in keeping information accurate.

Range, Recreation and Forest Practices Branch will store all orders for resource management zones and objectives, and for plans declared to be higher level plans by the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the ministers.

Note: Appropriate ORCS filing standards and an electronic database to standardize the filing of orders and higher level plans are being developed by Range, Recreation and Forest Practices Branch in cooperation with other branches, divisions and agencies.