Southwest Island Public Advisory Group (SIPAG) Meeting Minutes

Transcription

1 Call to order Southwest Island Public Advisory Group (SIPAG) Meeting Minutes Kirstin Campbell, Environmental Programs Advisor, welcomed members of the Southwest Island Public Advisory Group at the Shaker Mill Restaurant in Lake Cowichan on the 20 th of February at 4:30. Members Present: - Jayne Ingram, Lake Cowichan Town Council - Denis Martel, Wilderness Watch Committee - Vince Callander, Local Business - Helen Reid, Cowichan Tribes - Sandy Peters, Valley Fish and Game Club - Georgina Livingstone, Lake Cowichan First Nation Support: - Mark Carter, TJG Operations Planner - Kirstin Campbell, Environment Department Guest Speaker: - Rick Coles, Vancouver Island Caving Exploration Group Regrets: - Rob Brouwer, DFO - Pat Weaver, CL Community Forest Co-op - Shawn Wolansky, TerraTree Forestry - Tim McGonigle, TFL 46 Worker - Tom Jones, Pacheedaht First Nation - Jim Humphrey, Chamber of Commerce Documents Documents distributed to members: SIPAG Meeting #30 Agenda Draft Meeting Minutes for October 3, 2012 Handouts for the presentation South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 1 of 6

2 Documents available: Sustainable Forest Management Plan CSA Sustainable Forest Management Standard Z Meeting Kirstin asked members to introduce themselves for the benefit of one member and the guest speaker, Rick Coles. Current Events Since the last meeting Teal has undergone their Internal Audit in the Fraser Valley in June, and two weeks ago, an External Audit in Honeymoon Bay. Kirstin asked if anyone had any news or current events to share. Denis asked Mark if Teal buys food from the Village Market. Mark said not as a company, no. Denis said that they are having a customer appreciation night and Teal could set up a booth there. Previous meeting minutes Oct. 3, 2012 Kirstin referred to the draft meetings minutes for the October 3, 2012 meeting. It was noted that the meeting minutes were previously distributed via , therefore the review during meeting time would be kept brief. Jayne pointed out a correction on page 6: Teal contributed wood to building the arena, not the library. Kirstin reviewed the action items: 1. Action Item # 29-1: Distribute updated contact list prior to next meeting in Completed. 2. Action Item # 29-2: Ask a Teal representative to talk with Jim further about Chamber membership. Kirstin said this has been completed, and John Pichugin, manager at Teal in Surrey, is asking the owners again this year if they will join. 3. Action Item # 29-3: Finalize meeting minutes, post on the internet. Completed. 4. Action Item # 29-4: Send out a newsletter update to PAGs next spring/summer between meetings if there is any news to report. Kirstin said that we will be having a meeting in June this year so a newsletter may not be necessary. 5. Action Item # 29-5: Discuss option of a PAG member exchange in 2013 with Teal and at future PAG meeting. Kirstin said that this will be discussed in the future; it is a good idea, but we are not sure how it will work since the member would have to stay overnight in the Fraser Valley (the meeting runs until 8pm). SIPAG approved the meeting minutes. Action Item #30-1: Finalize meeting minutes, post on the internet Environmental Department, March 31, 2013 South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 2 of 6

3 Karst Management Guest Speaker Rick Coles Kirstin introduced the guest speaker for the night, Rick Coles, from the Vancouver Island Caving Exploration Group. Rick said he is also the Coordinator for the Southcoast Coordinator for cave rescues, and the President of the Canadian Cave Conservancy (CCC). CCC raises money for caves such as Horne Lake Caves. The following is a summary of Rick s presentation: - Karst refers to limestone and the features within such as sea caves, lava tubes, talus caves, rockfall, caves etc. - If the caving community fins any cultural sites they let the First Nation know. - In general, they don t disclose the location of caves. - Cave information now starting to be more widely available because of the increase in four wheel drive vehicles, GPS and the internet. - Caving community is trying to GPS caves on island for management, and working with industry. - There are known caves here and about 1000 have been GPS ed. Island Timber Sales is putting together the data, marked as sensitive. - Sandy asked if there is any protection mechanism. Rick replied no there isn t. In other countries there is protection but not in Canada. There used to be an inventory system provincially but this has been dismantled and any inventory completed is done by industry. Mark there is a GAR (Government Action Regulation) Order so legally we have to address issue for karst. This provides protection against filling in a cave. Mark said caves are officially considered a resource feature, and logging should not harm that feature. - Sandy asked if Rick looks into mines, no. Denis asked if they have rescued people in mines and they have. - The south island has a big opportunity for tourism around caves such as up on Truck Rd 4 and Nixon Creek. Gordon Camp also has a good cave for an interpretive trail, accessible all winter long - When managing around caves windthrow can be a problem. Mark said when they found a cave in the Lake Cowichan Forestry Co-op they left a tree and a half around it to prevent blow down. - Georgina asked how safe it was for tourism around caves. Rick said that many of these caves have been used for years, there is generally not much rockfall unless it is a new cave. - Harvestman spiders live in cave entrance in winter, then crickets come in and eat spiders, then brown bats (which are endangered) - Denis asked how many caves there are in the TFL and Rick replied about Jayne asked how big is the caving community? Rick said there are about 100 cavers on the island, 150 in BC. - Jayne asked if it is safe for inexperienced people in our area? Rick said people could do self-guided tours in this area, could do interpretive trails and decent signage, town will benefit. South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 3 of 6

4 - Denis asked about liability on the TFL Rick same as hunter or hiker. - Georgina asked how are caves protected? Rick said we just don t tell where they are. Georgina said preservation is probably the hardest. Forest Management, Mark Carter Mark discussed how Teal currently manages for karst. The following is a summary: - Informally Teal has always managed for karst. The GAR Order makes it illegal to damage a cave on the south island during any resource extraction activity. They are always on the lookout for it; especially sink holes which are potentially dangerous to machinery. - Teal has field cards for karst which are filled out and filed on record for each block. Both significance (whether or not it is a cave, how big it is, connectivity, whether there is a stream etc.), and vulnerability are assessed to determine risk. If there is moderate or higher risk then they bring in a professional to come in and do a formal assessment, often as part of a terrain assessment. Teal manages karst like bear dens, which are removed from the block. Kirstin reviewed Indicator C1.4.2: Protection of Identified Sacred and Culturally Important Sites with the SIPAG, which reports on, in part, karst in the Defined Forest Area. SFM Indicators Kirstin said that there are a few indicators to review and possibly change with the SIPAG. The first was H2.1: Protection of Riparian Resources. She reminded everyone that the External Audit found that the variance of this indicator went against legislation (variance of 1), and we needed to change the non-core indicator. SIPAG approved changes to H2.1: Value Objective Indicator Target Acceptable Variance Healthy Forests Minimize detrimental impacts on fisheries and water resources Report on the # of reportable environmental incidents (landslides, wildfire, spills, windthrow) within riparian areas near recently built roads or in recently harvested blocks To prevent impacts to riparian areas The intent of this indicator is to report on # of events impacting riparian areas. The second indicator for review was D2-4 Stand Establishment. In 2012, one remote access had not been surveyed for Free Growing before the expiry date, and one block had a fire ans an application had been made for an exemption to Free Growing. Discussions have been ongoing with the PAGs about introducing a reasonable variance into the indicator. However, it became clear after the External Audit that this would give a variance to a legal obligation (similar to South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 4 of 6

5 H2.1), and not possible. Kirstin pointed out that Teal must legally meet its Free Growing obligations, and that the province would be monitoring any instances with their obligations were not met. She suggested a change to the indicator which would continue to have Teal report Free Growing to the PAGs but remove the need for a variance. SIPAG approved the following changes to D2.4: Value Objective Indicator Target Acceptable Variance Ecosystem recovery from disturbance & stress Forest management activities do not compromise the ability of the ecosystem to recover from disturbance and stress Successful establishment of stands (cutblocks meet free growing criteria) Report on compliance with Free Growing requirements in approved stocking standards The intent of this indicator is to report on the status of stand establishment within the DFA. The final indicator was C6.3.2: Cooperation with DFA Workers. Kirstin explained that managers in Fraser Valley are finding it difficult to attend a minimum of 3 safety meetings in person, but that they review safety meeting minutes. Teal was requesting that the indicator could be changed so that a minimum of 3 safety meetings were attended OR meeting minutes reviewed. Sandy asked if this meant that a Teal representative might not attend any meetings? Kirstin replied yes. Jayne asked Mark how many he has attended over the past year. Mark replied that he has attended several as has Brian Henderson. Mark said the companies are usually SAFE certified and this means they have certain protocol to follow regarding safety meetings. Jayne said that the fear is that Teal will not have contact with the contractors about safety if they don t go at least once. Mark said he talks about safety to the crews during their Emergenecy Preparedness training and he always reviews safety when going over the Logging Plan. Mark said that the issue has come up in Fraser Valley because one of the contractors is in Lilloet and it isn t possible to get up there for safety meetings regularly. Kirstin suggested that we have two indicators for the time being, HBO will continue to have the original indicator. She will amend the description of what constitutes a safety meeting to be broader and encompass training and logging plan meetings which discuss safety. SIPAG agreed. Action Item #30-2: Make changes to indicators discussed in Feb 20/13 meeting based on SIPAG feedback. Environmental Department, May 31, 2013 South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 5 of 6

6 Next Scheduled Meeting Kirstin said that the next meeting will be in June to discuss the annual report. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Minutes recorded by Kirstin. South Island PAG Meeting 30 Minutes (February 20, 2013) Page 6 of 6