VICTORIA — An audit of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) Program and timber sale licensees in the Bulkley Timber Supply Area has found numerous problems with roads and bridges.
The audit found the BCTS had a number of poor practices, leading to finding six bridges with structural safety issues, said an April 19 media statement. There were also problems with culvert installation and maintenance, and road maintenance issues that led to a small landslide.
Several of the problems had been previously identified by government but were not corrected, said the audit. Overall, despite finding most timber sale licence holders met their obligations, the audit found BCTS’s road maintenance system was not up to current standards.
The Bulkley Timber Supply Area is part of the BCTS Babine Business Area in in northwestern B.C.
“The number of issues with roads and bridges identified in this audit is concerning,” said Chris Mosher, director of audits for the Forest Practices Board, in the statement. “We are also concerned that we continue to see issues with fire hazard assessments, as we have warned licensees that this is a legal requirement that we check in our audits.”
Following the audit, BCTS has taken actions, or has a plan to take action, to address the problems identified, said the statement.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.’s independent watchdog for forest and range practices.
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