Meadow Creek Cedar will miss today’s government-imposed deadline to reforest several cutblocks, imposed in February when the company’s license was suspended for silviculture infractions.
Selkirk Resource District manager Garth Wiggill, who issued the remediation order, says the company has told him they are trying to fulfill it, but will be planting into September.
“They made some committments that they would be ordering trees,” he said in an interview. “They hired some staff to monitor the work. [Owner] Dale Kooner told me they would attempt to get the trees planted and the soil disturbance remediated ... The latest I’ve heard is some of the work has been done, but we don’t believe all of it will be completed [in time].”
Wiggill said the company’s suspension will remain in place at least until he’s satisfied all of the remediation requirements have been met.
The company is appealing the suspension to the Forest Appeals Commission, along with two contravention findings, two remediation orders, and $55,000 in fines. The commission is an independent body that reviews forest-related decisions by government officials.
A hearing has been scheduled for September 18 to 21 in Nelson at the Prestige Lakeside Resort.
Wiggill says he’s unlikely to take any more enforcement steps on the files in question before the commission rules on the appeal, but he’ll continue to monitor the company’s activities.
Meadow Creek Cedar was fined $42,000 for failing to reforest half a dozen cutblocks, and a further $13,500 for a timber trespass and soil disturbance.
The ministry’s compliance and enforcement staff has also finished investigating another additional alleged timber trespass that is likely to go to a hearing before Wiggill in October.