Policy 13.6 - Waste Assessments

Effective Date: 1-May-06
Responsible Branch: Revenue Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy, in concert with the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual, implements the concept of "take or pay" to the utilization of Crown timber. It cancels and replaces the Waste Assessments Policy dated April 1, 2006.

Policy

Merchantable Crown timber, whether standing or felled, that is not reserved from cutting and remains on site upon the completion of primary logging of each cut block or at the expiry of the agreement or cutting permit is waste. The ministry will issue waste bills charging for this waste.

Waste bills will apply to all cut blocks in the cutting permit if timber harvesting has occurred on any cut block, unless the cutting permit was issued before November 4, 2003, and has been surrendered. For a surrendered cutting permit, waste bills will apply to harvested or partially harvested cut blocks but will not apply to cut blocks where no timber harvesting has occurred.

Waste assessments will be carried out in accordance with the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual, as amended from time to time.

Definitions

"Merchantable Timber" means timber that meets or exceeds the timber merchantability specifications in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual. Timber that is graded dry Y or Z (Coast), dry Grade 4, Grade 6 or Z (Interior) is not merchantable.

"Primary Logging" means the cutting of timber and the yarding of that timber to a central landing, roadside or drop area in a logging operation.

"Reserved Trees" means merchantable timber left after completion of primary logging that is reserved from cutting for silviculture, biodiversity or other specific forest management reasons.

"Timber Harvesting" means the felling or removal of timber other than on road rights-of-way or landings on a cut block.

"Waste" means timber, except timber reserved from cutting, whether standing or felled, which meets or exceeds the timber merchantability specifications described for the Coast and the Interior in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual, that was not removed from the cutting authority area.

"Waste Bills" means a monetary invoice issued by the Ministry of Forests for waste reported in a waste assessment.

Authority

Waste assessments are authorized under:

• Forest Act, sections; 13(3)(b), 14(d)(ii), 20(3)(ii), 22(f)(ii), 33(5)(ii), 35(c)(ii), 43.3(d)(ii), 43.7(2)(e)(ii), 43.8(e)(ii), 45(1)(d)(ii), 47.5(1)(ii), 47.7(f)(ii), 103.1, 118(c)(ii).
• Provisions for waste assessments are made in the agreements and/or cutting authorities.
• Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual.

Responsibility

The district manager is responsible for conducting waste assessments on forestry licences to cut, occupant licences to cut, timber sale licences (non BC Timber Sales) and for conducting waste assessment check surveys.

The timber sales manager is responsible for conducting waste assessments on timber sale licences, forestry licences to cut and permits issued by BC Timber Sales.

Holders of a major licence, woodlot licence, community forest agreement, community salvage licence, or road permit are responsible for conducting waste assessments on their licence(s).

Methods

Only those methods described in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual are to be used for conducting waste assessments.

Waste Classification

Waste is classified as either unavoidable or avoidable.

Unavoidable waste means waste that:

• is inaccessible or physically obstructed; or
• could not be felled, bucked or removed due to safety or environmental reasons.

Avoidable waste means waste that does not fall within the definition of unavoidable waste.

Reporting

Waste assessments must be completed and reported within the time periods specified in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual.

Waste Benchmarks

Monetary billings will only be made on the avoidable waste volumes in excess of the waste benchmarks established in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual.

Monetary Billing

Avoidable waste will be billed according to the species and log grades.

Coniferous saw logs (Grade U or better all species and hemlock and balsam Grade J [Coast]); Grade 1 and Grade 2 (Interior) will be billed at the waste rate pertaining to the timber mark and derived in a method described in the Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual.

Grade U hemlock and balsam, coniferous Grade X, coniferous and deciduous Grade Y (Coast), and Grade 4 (Interior) will be billed at the rates established for these grades in either the Coast or Interior Appraisal Manual plus any bonus or levies where applicable.

Deciduous species graded saw log will be billed using the appraised stand as a whole rate or where not available, the fixed rate for the species as specified in the Coast or Interior Appraisal Manual, plus any bonus or levies where applicable.

Assessment Submissions

Completed waste assessments must be submitted and signed off under the signature of:

• a registered professional forester or a registered forest technologist registered with the Association of BC Forest Professionals; or
• a licensed logging residue surveyor or a licensed scaler, licensed by the Ministry of Forests.

References

• Forest Act;
• Provincial Logging Residue and Waste Measurement Procedures Manual.