Forest Management Certification Assessment Report for - Rainforest ...

FSC PrincipleComments from InterestedParties• Logging trucks travel too fast onbush roads and highways.• Access management does not meetthe needs of the tenure holders andusers.• There is inadequate road deactivationand lack of attention to concernsexpressed about roads.Assessment Team Response• Safe work procedures for truckersinclude traveling at safe speeds.Review of the EMS and safety recordsshowed a few public complaints aboutspeeding trucks, and that the topic hasbeen raised at safety meetings.Tembec’s response includes postingwarnings at the scales and reminders attail-gate safety meetings. Many trucksare equipped with electronic systemsthat track truck speeds, making itpossible to trace offenders. Given therelatively low number of offenses, andthe actions taken, this was not deemedto be non-conformance warrantingcorrective action.• Access management is a controversialpractice in BC that involves bothprovincial government agencies andforest licensees. The team found thatTembec is handling accessmanagement as well as can beexpected given their limited legalauthority, the range of views andinterests, and the lack of governmentlegislation and enforcement ofclosures. No non-conformance wasfound but Observation 4.4.1a suggeststhat the company should reconsiderthe timelines for notification on roadaccess changes. The team alsoimposed CAR 4/06 to address accessassociated with mining explorationroads in HCVF areas.• Tembec does a good job on roaddeactivation and rehabilitation of spurroads but there is a problem withseasonal deactivation of on-goingmaintenance of non-haul roads anderosion and sedimentation result.CAR 17/06 is imposed.Page 23 of 89