British Columbia / / Ministry of Forests LandsNatural Resource Operations / THOMPSON RIVERS DISTRICT
SMALL SCALE SALVAGE PROGRAM
2014/2015 SSSP GUIDELINES
DATE: April7, 2014
INTRODUCTIONIn addition to the Small Scale Salvage Program Professional Application Provincial Guidelines, (which can be found at the following web address, this document has been prepared to provide further guidance and information related to the delivery of the Small Scale Salvage Program (SSSP) in the Thompson Rivers District (DTR). The SSSP in the DTR is being continued under the following criteria and specifications for the period of April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015.
The DTRSSSP is based on the premise of providing excellent forest stewardship in a safe and efficient manner while meeting the objectives of the previous Ministry of Forests and Range (MOFR)Three Year Strategic Plan 08/09 – 10/11 dated December 21, 2007. Although this strategic plan has not been updated since 2011, the content is still relevant for the most part and should be used as guidance.
Some of the main objectives set out in the three year plan that will be used for guidance in issuing salvage licenses are as follows:
- “SAFETY” - All participants of the program must conduct operations in a safe manner
- Harvest and utilize small volumes of timber that are dead and/or in danger of being significantly reduced in value, lost or destroyed and would otherwise not be harvested;
- Reduce the spread of insects and disease and contribute to forest health management;
- Provide employment and business opportunities for small independent operators and communities;
- Ensure a cost-effective program that contributes to government revenues;
- Recognize and meet the government’s objectives with respect to coarse woody debris; and
- Reduce forest fire hazard by reducing dead or down fuel load.
PURPOSE
To establish a clear and efficient process for the delivery of the SSSP in the DTR and to ensure the SSSP is consistent with the objectives set out in the:
- DTR 2014/15 Strategic Plan dated April 7, 2014
PROGRAM DELIVERY
SSS activities in the DTR will primarily be delivered via Professional & Conventional Forestry License to Cut (FLTC) applications.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Section 47.6 of the Forest Act and Section 2 of the FLTC Regulation specifies a maximum volume of 2,000 M3 can be “direct award” under a Forestry License to Cut.
FLTC applications > 50 and < 2000M3 must be prepared, signed and sealed by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF).
FLTC applications <50 M3 are referred to as FLTC Cash sales. Cash Sales will be processed conventionally once an “Application to Purchase Crown Timber” is completed and submitted to the FLNRO office tenures section. The licensee must pay stumpage up front on cash sales. These may also be obtained from Front Counter BC.
The District Manager reserves the right to accept conventional applications for circumstances where requiring a professional applicationis cost prohibitive (e.g. decked wood or removing danger trees from a recreation site).
In order to provide equal opportunity to all participants of the SSSP, a licensee may have a maximum of 5 FLTC’s issued in their name at any one time depending on risk.
To meet the objective of providing employment opportunities for small independent operators, the FLTC licensee must complete either of the falling, skidding, bucking, loading or hauling phases unless given prior approval from the district office.
Maximum volumes for a Direct Award are 2,000 m3 which includes scaled volume as set out in the FLTC document (access volume included) and the volume of waste determined by a waste and residue survey. As such, an accurate assessment and tracking of volumes is critical to ensure that the 2000m3 limit is not exceeded. If the 2,000 m3 limit is exceeded, Sec 75.21 of the Forest Act, and Sec 2 (2), 17 and 18 of the Cut Control Regulation will apply resulting in a penalty billing.
The District Manager may deny applications based on risk with respect to on the ground practices or failure to meet standards/obligations specified in the license document and/or the DTR SSSP Guidelines. Examples of poor performance include, but are not limited to :
- Failure to retain a free growing stand (on selection harvests)
- Excessive soil disturbance (FPPR Sec 35)
- Trespass (unauthorized harvest)
- Damage to plantations/reserve timber/crown timber
- Failure to address fuel hazard/dispose of logging debris
- Exceeding maximum volume limits
- Failure to harvest or complete a FLTC
- Unsafe practices
- Damage to Roads
- Inadequate clean-up
- Failure to follow the professional prescription
GUIDELINES AND GENERAL CONDITIONS
Salvage proposals must correspond with the criteria, goals and objectives set out in the current DTR SSSP Strategic Plan and these guidelines.
“Salvage Timber” is considered timber that:
- Has been blown down, or
- Has been damaged by insect, disease, fire and/or ice/snow resulting in structural damage, or
- In danger of significantly being reduced in value, lost or destroyed and would not otherwise be utilized.
- Selection harvest stands must contain at least 30% “salvage timber”.
- Stands consisting of > 60% “salvage timber” shall not be selectively harvested. These stands may be clearcut if the District Manager decides to take on the silviculture obligation.
- Smallclearcutswith a total volume of less than 2,000 m3must not be proposed within areas of continuous and equally intensive beetle infested, fire killed, diseased or wind thrown treesthat should be addressed via a larger clearcut (eg. The perimeter surrounding the block or on any edge should not be contiguous of what is being harvested). These areas are to be addressed by a major licensee, NRFL or BCTS. The exception is harvestingproposalsadjacent to private land , OGMA’s, reserve zones dwellings, utility lines, public roads or fence linesfor the purpose of reducing the fire hazard, safety concerns or damage from windthrow.
- Proposed clearcut areas must remove all of the affected timber and not exceed 2000m3. Areas will not be divided into more than 1 FLTC number to remove a volume greater than 2000m3 except in extreme circumstances pre approved by the district office.
- Red/Grey Blowdown must have a minimum of 30% of the existing stand structure blown down and the contiguous area of blowdown cannot exceed 2000 M3. The minimum percentage for green blowdown may be reduced if it is considered a significant forest health risk.
- Selective harvest of Pine leading stands will not be entertained where green Pine is proposed to be left standing.
- No more than 10% non-salvage (access timber) shall be removed from the FLTC license area. The only exception where non- salvage timber can exceed this percent is for the purposes of Community Wildfire Protection or if authorised in a professional plan endorsed by the District Manager.
No Harvest areas include, but are not limited to:
- Wildlife Tree Patches (WTP’s)
- Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA’s)
- Riparian Reserve Zones (RRZ’s)
- Any Wildlife or other Protection areas
Normally, the following applies to all Trap Tree (TT) applications:
- They must be pre-approved by the SSS Coordinator and forest health staff.
- No TT patch is to exceed 0.5 Hectares, including spillover harvest unless the existing level of green attack in the stand warrants a larger opening.
- No TT patch can be established within 50 M of any other TT patch
- All TT patches must be clearly marked/numbered in the field and must correspond with the numbering sequence on the FLTC map. (must be painted)
- TT FLTC’s do not allow for roadside salvage between patches unless approved.
- Bark must be peeled from logs and disposed of as specified by the forest health staff, or,
- Funnel traps and pheromones must be established at all patch/deck locations at the licensees expense
“Free Growing”: To qualify as FG the post harvest site must contain a stocked free growing stand with a minimum stocking standard as per the “Chief Foresters Reference Guide for Forest Development Plan Stocking Standards” referenced in the FPPR as modified from time to time. FG status must be assessed using the appropriate Silviculture survey methodology and applicable stocking standards. *** Note: Pine (Pl) may not contribute to stocking for layers 1 and 2 in FG surveys.
INITIAL APPLICATION (PRE-APPLICATION)
Once the applicant decides the salvage being proposed meets the district objectives and guidelines an “Application to Purchase Crown Timber” (Pre-Application) can be submitted to the district for review. This form is available at the district office.
The applicant must refer to the major licensee (s) who’s operating area the salvage will occur in to ensure that they have no immediate interest in the timber. The applicant must provide written consent from the licensee(s) showing that they have no immediate interest in the salvage of the timber applied for with the Application to Purchase Crown Timber being submitted to the district office. A 1:30,000 colour map clearly defining the proposed salvage area must accompany the submission. Maps to determine licensee operating areas are available at one of the Thompson Rivers District offices for viewing. Prior to viewing these maps an appointment must be arranged with the Small Scale Salvage Co-ordinator or alternate. Applications not meeting these standards may not be accepted.
If all of the application requirements have been met to an acceptable standard, the application will normally be processed within 14 calendar days of receiving the complete application. Once the application is approved a FLTC number will be issued to the applicant. At this time the applicant can proceed with layout, mapping and preparation of the professional submission which will include but is not limited to: Professional Salvage Application (PSA) or Site Plan, maps, FTA submission and all referrals. Any work done prior to having a FLTC number issued is at the risk of the applicant.
Complete applications are to be submitted to Murray Allison, Thompson Rivers District Small Scale Salvage Co-ordinator. Applications will be processed on a first come first serve basis based on the salvage priority matrix in the Thompson Rivers District Small Scale Salvage Strategic Plan.
PROFESSIONAL SUBMISSION
The Professional Application was implemented to facilitate a consistent submission package and to require an RPF to certify that the information in the application is accurate and that it meets the guidelines, conditions and expectations outlined in this document.
The professional is required to ensure all referrals have been done and that the PSA being submitted is consistent with the Kamloops LRMP and the Sustained Forest Management Plan (SFMP). The harvest area must also ensure there is no harvesting within OGMA’s, WTP’s, parks, private land or riparian reserve zones unless approved by the district.
The professional must use the full legal name of the applicant when completing documents for small scale salvage clients. This can be their first, middle and last name, a registered company or a registered society.
The professional is responsible for the submission of a complete and accurate application and post harvest report. The post harvest report must verify operations are complete and indicate if the operations are compliant with the approved standards, guidelines and licence conditions. The professional is not accountable for the actions carried out by the licensee under the terms of any Forestry Licence to Cut subsequently issued over the application area providing due diligence was shown on the professionals behalf. It is highly recommended that the professional will supervise harvesting operations to ensure the plan is followed.
The Professional Application package must include the following:
- Professional Salvage Application for Forestry Licence to Cut and2 copies of a site plan prepared by an RPF for any proposed NSR openings 0.5 hectare or greater in size
- Stumpage Rate Request Form
- All areas must be referred to the appropriate First Nations Band(s). This is considered information sharing. Documentation of information sharing must accompany the PSA on the Thompson Rivers District First Nation Information Sharing Report for Small Scale Salvage.
- Four 1:5000 or 1:10,000 colour maps of the area proposed for harvest
- One 1:30,000 colour location map of the area proposed for harvest showing Km by Km directions to the site from Kamloops.
- Exhibit A map (unless submitted in FTA)
- Letter from licensee(s) showing no immediate plans in the harvest opportunity.
- A disk containing digital copies of GPS data (SHP and PDF). All proposed harvesting must be submitted through the Electronic Submission Framework (ESF) into FTA.
- Road use agreement (when required)
- Authorization is to be obtained from BC Hydro, Ministry of Transportation, Telus, Kinder-Morgan and any other major utility company or Ministry when salvage operations may materially affect their Right of Ways, structures or operations
- Archaeological impact assessment where a potential cultural heritage resource has been identified.
- Range licensee referral
LICENCE ISSUANCE
Once the complete and accurate professional application package is received by the district a licence will usually be prepared within 21 calendar days. The FLTC submission checklist must accompany the final submission. The SSS Licensee will be notified when the FLTC document is ready for signing at which time the SSS Licensee must provide a security deposit usually totaling a minimum of $1000.00 – $1500.00. Security deposits must be in the form of certified cheques or bank drafts. Personal cheques will not be accepted.
The District Manager, or designate, may increase a security deposit amount based on risk.
If the licensee creates a cost or liability to the crown or fails to complete an obligation of the license, the security deposit being held for the FLTC may be withheld or used to complete outstanding licence obligations.
POST HARVEST REPORT
The SSS Post Harvest report indicates the successful completion of harvesting activities and compliance or non-compliance with tenure obligations and legislative requirements. This report should be completed by the same Professional that prepared the PSA and must be submitted within 60 days of primary harvest completion or within 60 days of snow melt. The post harvest report must be completed during a snow free period to get an accurate assessment of the harvested area. The post harvest report must include:
- The DTR Post Harvest Report template signed and sealed by an RPF
- Confirmation of the Results submission and a confirmation that the correct Net Area to Reforest and Silviculture and Inventory Labels have been entered. NAR openings >0.5 ha must be stratified out of selection/stocked areas post harvest.
- The Sustained Forest Management Plan Checklist
- A color map indicating debris pile locations, non-compliant issues and any outstanding obligations.
- A “Free Growing” declaration by a qualified person for any selection harvesting. If DTR staff disagree with the “Free Growing” declaration a FG survey may be required.
- Consistency with the methodology outlined in the “Stocking & Free Growing Procedures Manual – March 2008” or as amended from time to time
- A minimum of 5 plots per stratum or 1 plot per Hectare
- Plots must be evenly distributed over the entire block
- A plot map must be submitted along with the completed FS 657, 658,659 and 1138A.
- The FG survey must be conducted by an “accredited silviculture surveyor” or an “RPF”
- In the event where a FG survey determines that a stand has not been left FG or stocked, the following must be submitted to the DTR:
- A “rational” as to why the FLTC was not left in the condition specified in the application
- An “SP, Silviculture Plan & maps”
- SP area marked in the field
- All “digital data” required
- Security deposits will be held until “all” contractual obligations are met and a Post Harvest report is submitted.
- If debris piles remain un-burnt at the time of the Post Harvest report, 50% of the security deposit will be held until which time they are burnt completely.
- The intent of the District SSS Coordinator is to conduct a Post Harvest or final inspection on 100% of all FLTC’s issued. Progress inspections will occur randomly as time and resources permit.
STUMPAGE/TABLE RATES
SSS base stumpage rates are determined from Tables 6-1, 6-4, 6-5 and 6-6 of the Interior Appraisal Manual (IAM). The “Interior Stumpage Rate Request Form” identifies which table is to be used to determine the stumpage rates.
- Table 6-1 applies to:
- clearcuts greater than 5 Ha or sales that don’t meet the salvage criteria
- Table 6-4 (most common for DTR SSS) applies to:
- select harvest where a F.G/stocked stand is retained (no silv. obligation)
- clearcuts 1-5 Ha meeting the damaged timber criteria and more than 30 % of the stand is damaged (with a silv. obligation)
- Table 6-5 applies to
- Post harvest material (Eg: decked timber)
- Table 6-6 applies to:
- Special forest products (Eg: shakes, post & rail, deciduous, firewood…)
SILVICULTURE LEVIES
In addition to the previous stumpage rates, a silviculture levy will be applied to most FLTC’s.
“Standard Silviculture Levy” for clearcuts >0.5 Ha:
As of September 28, 2012, and until replaced or modified, the Thompson Rivers District will apply a fixed silviculture levy in the amount of $ 5.00/M3 on all FLTC’s which prescribe or will potentially create a NSR clearcut opening size > 0.5Ha. This amount is considered an estimate of our costs based in part on the appraisal estimates and our feeling for what is reasonable based on historical costs in the Thompson Rivers District. The DM, or delegate, may apply a zero ($0.00) levy if it is determined that a silviculture obligation will not be incurred. Some examples of exemptions may include, but are not limited to:
- Where a third party agrees to take on the silviculture obligation or already has the silviculture responsibility on a specific area
- Low volume/low value stands where natural regeneration may be successful such as yellow pine leading with existing heavy understory.
- decked timber, or
- Fence Line Right of Way sanitization where harvesting will be limited to a maximum of 5 Meters from either side of the fence
- Where a stand contains sufficient enough levels of root disease to require stumping to increase success of future crop trees.
- Sites that are historically hard to re-establish
OPERATIONAL & CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS
The licensee must comply with all the conditions and obligations set out in the Forestry License to Cut document and these Guidelines. Failure to achieve the above will result in the potential forfeit of the security deposit or the cancellation or suspension of the FLTC.
The following are some of the common conditions & operational practices that are conducted in the DTR SSSP:
- If the DTR suspects an operation to be unsafe, the FLTC may be suspended until such time that Worksafe can visit the site.
- No harvest in Riparian Reserve Zones (RRZ’s) except for safety issues along roads etc.
- NCD’s will be managed as per S-6 management strategies.
- All landings/processing areas to be > 30 meters from any watercourse.
- Maximum skid trail width is a 5 meter wide opening and a 4 meter wide running surface.
- Bladed trails must be rehabbed.
- Main access trails which are compacted or have slopes > 30% must be deactivated.
- Bladed and main access trails must be marked in the field.
- No landing or road construction is permitted unless pre authorized in a plan.
- Roads must be restored to original condition. This includes any prior deactivation, working ditches /structures and a smooth running surface
- Harvest must occur when soils are dry, frozen or when sufficient snowpack exists to minimize soil disturbance
- DTR must be notified at commencement and completion of operations. Worksafe BC must be notified at commencement.
- Danger trees may be “felled” up to 1.5 tree lengths outside the boundary for safety purposes and may be “removed” if granted authority by the DTR providing they don’t encroach onto private or other tenured land.
- Log decks that remain on site after expiry become the property of the crown and may be subject to waste billing.
- Any deck must be neatly piled, off the road and out of ditches.
- Ditches and roads must be “free” of debris. Piles must be bee-hived for burning. Poor piling which results in poor burning will require the licensee to re-pile and re-burn debris piles.
- Burning must be conducted in accordance with the Wildfire Act. A burn registration number is required prior to burning. A burn registration number can be obtained by calling 1-888-797-1717. Burning must also be conducted in accordance with Ministry of Environment Venting regulations.
SUMMARY
For further clarification or questions related to these guidelines, please contact the undersigned.
MURRAY ALLISON, RFT
THOMPSON RIVERS DISTRICT
SSS COORDINATOR /
April7,2014
Date
______MURRAY ALLISON______
Signature
Contact: 250-371-6553
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