Audit of BC Timber Sales program finds issues with road, bridge maintenance [Video]

The Forest Practices Board says an audit of the BC Timber Sales program and timber sales license holders in the Boundary region found “significant issues” with road and bridge maintenance.

It says the board conducted a “full scope compliance audit” of all activities between June 2022 and June 2023 in the Kootenay Business Area in south-central B.C. along Highway 3.

The watchdog says it found that the agency did not inspect any high or very high-risk roads and that only a small amount of moderate-risk roads were inspected during the audit period, which is not compliant with the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.

Since the audit, it says the agency has improved its road-maintenance system.

The board says the audit also found that Tolko Industries Ltd., which is a timber sales license holder, did not repair broken guardrails on a bridge used by industrial traffic during the audit period.

Since …