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1998 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 36th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational

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The printed version remains the official version.

BILL 51: NIS G A'A FINAL AGREEMENT ACT – APPENDICES

APPENDIX H

APPENDIX H

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

FOR FOREST RESOURCES

Schedule 1

Map of Forestry Transition period planning criteria for forest development plans

Definitions

1. In this Appendix:

a. "volume of timber harvested under the licence"

means the total of the following that are charged to the holder of the licence:

i. the volume of timber cut under the licence and under road

permits issued under the licence,

ii. the volume of timber estimated to be wasted or damaged under

cutting permits and road permits issued under the licence, and

iii. the volume of timber cut by the holder of the licence

anywhere on Nis g a'a Lands, otherwise than in accordance with this Appendix and

forest practices legislation;

b. "Nis g a'a Lands" has the same meaning as in

this Agreement except that it does not include former Nis g a'a Indian reserves, as

defined in paragraph 1 of the Forest Resources Chapter; and

c. other words and expressions that are defined in paragraph 1 of the

Forest Resources

Chapter have the same meaning in this Appendix as given in that Chapter.

Application

2. Except as otherwise provided, this Appendix applies to Nis g a'a

Lands during the transition period.

Cut Control

3. If the annual volume of timber apportioned to a licence

under paragraph 18 of the Forest Resources

Chapter is greater than 15,000 m 3 ,

the volume of timber harvested under the licence will:

a. for any transition year, not be less than 50%, nor more than 150%,

of the annual volume of timber apportioned to that licence; and

b. for the entire transition period, not exceed the lesser of:

i. the total volume of timber apportioned to that licence, and

ii. the total volume of timber apportioned to that licence, less

any reductions imposed under sections 5 or 7.

4. If the annual volume of timber apportioned to the licence

under paragraph 18 of the Forest Resources

Chapter is 15,000 m 3 or less, the

volume of timber harvested under the licence during the transition period will not exceed

the lesser of:

a. the total volume of timber apportioned to that licence; and

b. the total volume of timber apportioned to that licence, less any

reductions imposed under

section 7.

5. If in a transition year, a holder of a licence to which

section 3 applies harvests a volume of timber that exceeds the specified limit for that

year, the total volume apportioned to that licence for the transition period will be

reduced by an amount equal to the excess.

6. Any timber harvest by a holder of a licence that is in

excess of the total volume of timber apportioned to that licence is an unauthorized

harvest, unless that volume was authorized in a cutting permit or road permit issued by

the Forestry Transition Committee.

7. If in a transition year, a holder of a licence to which

section 3 applies harvests a volume of timber that is less than the minimum limit

specified in that

section for that year, the total volume apportioned to that licence for

the transition period will be reduced by an amount equal to the undercut below the minimum

limit.

8. Any volume reductions to a licence under sections 5 or 7

will be prorated over the remaining years of the transition period.

9. Any prorated volume referred to in

section 8 will be

available to the Nis g a'a Nation to harvest in accordance with this Appendix.

STATUS OF TIMBER HARVESTING RIGHTS AND RELATED OBLIGATIONS ON THE

EFFECTIVE DATE

Rights to Harvest Timber on Nis g a'a Lands During the

Transition Period

10. A cutting permit referred to in

section 11, and any road

permit associated with that cutting permit, remains valid until the first of the following

occurs:

a. the date specified in the permit;

b. the first anniversary of the effective date; or

c. the cancellation of the licence that is associated with the

permit.

11. The cutting permits that

section 10 applies to are:

TFL#1

FL A16882

FL A16886

6AM

6AF

7AN

7AO

8AN

8AT

8AM

8AL

8AR

6AJ

12. A cutting permit or road permit that was issued before the

effective date with the agreement of the Nis g a'a Tribal Council under the Interim

Protection Measures agreement entered into among Canada, British Columbia and the Nis g a'a

Tribal Council on December 5, 1996, as amended, remains valid until the first of the

following occurs:

a. the date specified in the permit;

b. the second anniversary of the effective date; or

c. the cancellation of the licence that is associated with the

permit.

13. An authorization given under

section 52 of the Forest

Act before the effective date that authorizes an employee or agent of British

Columbia, acting in the course of duties, to harvest timber on an area that, on the

effective date, is Nis g a'a Lands, remains valid if the authorization relates to

road construction activities associated with a valid timber sale licence.

Status of Non-Cutting Authorities on the Effective Date

14. On the effective date, a road use permit that was issued

before the effective date and was associated with activities referred to in sections 10,

11 or 12, or with a timber sale licence, remains valid until the first of the following

occurs:

a. the date specified in the permit;

b. the first anniversary of the effective date; or

c. the cancellation of any licence that is associated with the

permit.

Status of Operational Plans on the Effective Date

15. On the effective date, any silviculture prescription

approved or in effect on the day before the effective date, remains valid if it is

associated with:

a. a cutting permit referred to in sections 10, 11 or 12;

b. a timber sale licence; or

c. a harvested area.

16. On the effective date, any logging plan in effect on the

day before the effective date remains valid if it is associated with:

a. a cutting permit referred to in sections 10, 11 or 12; or

b. a timber sale licence.

Continuing Obligations

17. British Columbia will fulfil on Nis g a'a Lands all

obligations imposed under forest practices legislation for areas that before the effective

date were outside of a tree farm licence area and if the timber on the area was:

a. damaged or destroyed by natural causes, unless, before the

effective date, a determination has been made by the district manager under the Forest

Practices Code of British Columbia Act that the area is too remote, too small or too

inaccessible to warrant the preparation of a prescription; or

b. cut, removed, damaged or destroyed in contravention of the Forest

Practices Code of British Columbia Act by a person other than the holder of a major

licence.

FOREST DEVELOPMENT PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Requirement for a Forest Development Plan

18. Subject to sections 10 to 12, harvesting or road related

activities must not occur under a licence unless the holder of the licence has prepared a

forest development plan that:

a. has been approved by the Forestry Transition Committee; and

b. is in effect before the activities take place.

19. The Nis g a'a Nation will not carry out timber

harvesting or road related activities in respect of the volume of timber specified in

section 20 and subsection 21 (

a) of the Forest Resources

Chapter unless the Nis g a'a

Nation has prepared a forest development plan that:

a. has been approved by the Forestry Transition Committee; and

b. is in effect before the activities take place.

20. A person referred to in

section 18 or 19 may apply to the

Forestry Transition Committee for an exemption from the requirement to have an approved

forest development plan if:

a. the only harvesting that will take place on the area is:

i. the felling and removal of trees to eliminate a safety hazard,

ii. the felling of trees to facilitate the collection of seed, and

the proposed harvesting will not result in an opening of greater than one hectare, or

iii. the felling and removal of trees that have been or will be

treated to facilitate entrapment of pests; and

b. no road construction is required to provide access for the timber

harvesting referred to in subsection (a).

Period and Term of a Forest Development Plan

21. A forest development plan will cover a period up to the end

of the transition period, but will be for a shorter period if:

a. the term of the licence to which the plan relates terminates

before the end of the transition period; or

b. the Forestry Transition Committee is satisfied that a plan cannot

be developed to the end of the transition period because:

i. a significant portion of the plan is for the harvesting of

blowdown or timber damaged by insects or fire and the exact location of the damaged timber

cannot be determined,

ii. there is insufficient timber available to provide operational

activities for the required period, or

iii. other similar circumstances exist that prevent a plan being

developed for the required period.

22. Unless otherwise specified by the Forestry Transition

Committee, a forest development plan expires one year from the date of approval of the

plan.

23. Before or after a forest development plan expires, the

Forestry Transition Committee, may:

a. extend the term of the forest development plan for a period or

periods not exceeding a total of one year at the request of or with the consent of the

person who prepared the plan; and

b. place conditions on the extension.

Content of a Forest Development Plan

24. A forest development plan will address an area sufficient

in size to include all areas affected by the timber harvesting and road construction or

modification operations proposed under the plan.

25. A forest development plan will include maps, schedules and

other information for the area under the plan, sufficient to permit adequate assessment by

the Forestry Transition Committee and resource agencies of:

a. the topography and natural features of the area under the plan;

and

b. the proposed timber harvesting and road construction or

modification operations to be carried out under the plan.

26. Without limiting

section 25, a forest development plan in

respect of a licence will:

a. contain information required under the Forest Practices Code of

British Columbia Act and its regulations in respect of forest development plans for a

holder of a major licence;

b. contain information to the standard required by the district

manager of the Kalum Forest District for a forest development plan in that forest district

in respect of:

i. logging method,

ii. silvicultural system,

iii. harvest season, and

iv. wildlife tree patches;

c. specify for each cutblock where harvesting is proposed during the

first two years of the plan:

i. the maximum proportion of the area that may be occupied by

permanent access structures,

ii. the maximum proportion of the net area to be reforested that

may be occupied by temporary access structures, and

iii. the free growing stocking standards that will apply to the

area;

d. specify, for each proposed road, the proposed right of way, which

will not exceed 30 metres in width unless a greater width is approved by the Forestry

Transition Committee; and

e. unless otherwise authorized by the Forestry Transition Committee,

be consistent with the relevant material specified for similar sites and conditions

contained within Ministry of Forests guidebook publications associated with the Forest

Practices Code of British Columbia Act, and the regulations under that Act.

27. Without limiting

section 25, a forest development plan

submitted by the Nis g a'a Nation will contain the following:

a. all information required under laws made under paragraph 6 of the

Forest Resources Chapter; and

b. for the area under the plan:

i. the size, shape and location of cutblocks proposed for

harvesting during the term of the plan, and

ii. the timing of proposed timber harvesting and related road

construction, maintenance and deactivation.

28. A forest development plan will comply with the following

constraints:

a. timber harvesting is not permitted within the following areas as

shown in

Schedule 1 to this Appendix:

i. the Nass Bottomlands polygon,

ii. any ecological reserve polygon,

iii. any archeological polygon, and

iv. 100 metres of either side of the centre line of the Grease

Trail;

b. timber harvesting of a road right of way is not permitted if that

harvesting is for the sole purpose of facilitating the extraction of gravel;

c. for the Pine Mushroom polygon as shown in

Schedule 1 to this

Appendix:

i. timber harvesting, including that associated with roads, will

retain a minimum of 80% of the forest cover at an age of at least 120 years, and

ii. silvicultural systems, other than for areas to be occupied by

roads, will be a selection system and provide for retention of a minimum of 70% of the

total basal area of the cutblock;

d. for the Tseax polygon, as shown in

Schedule 1 to this Appendix,

timber harvesting will not result in more than 10% of the visual area having vegetation of

a height of less than five metres;

e. timber harvesting will not occur within one kilometre of former

Kincolith IR #14, Lagaltsap IR #9, New Aiyansh IR #1 or Gitwinksihlkw IR #7 without the

agreement of the Village Government for the affected former Nis g a'a Indian Reserve;

f. timber harvesting will not occur within one kilometre of the

Gingietl Creek Ecological Reserve without the agreement of the Gitwinksihlkw Village

Government; and

g. timber harvesting within one kilometre of Nis g a'a Memorial

Lava Bed Park will not result in more than 10% of the visual area having vegetation of a

height of less than five metres.

29. A forest development plan will contain:

a. if the plan is submitted by a holder of a licence, the signature

of the holder or a person who has authority to sign the plan on behalf of the holder; and

b. if the plan is submitted by the Nis g a'a Nation, the

signature of a person who has authority to sign the plan on behalf of the Nis g a'a

Nation.

30. Notwithstanding sections 25 to 28, if the Forestry

Transition Committee determines that a timber harvesting activity that is proposed to be

carried out is restricted to minor salvage operations, the Forestry Transition Committee

may waive any of the forest development plan content requirements specified in those

sections.

Review and Comment of a Forest Development Plan

31. The review and comment requirements of the forest practices

legislation apply to forest development plans during the transition period.

32. Notwithstanding

section 31, if the Forestry Transition

Committee determines that a forest development plan or amendment is necessary to address

an emergency, the Forestry Transition Committee may vary the review and comment

requirements.

Evaluation of a Forest Development Plan

33. The Forestry Transition Committee:

a. subject to subsection (b), will approve a forest development plan

that meets the requirements of this Appendix; but

b. may refuse to approve a cutblock or road proposed in the forest

development plan that meets the requirements of this Appendix, if the Forestry Transition

Committee determines that the plan, in respect of the matters referred to in

section 26,

does not adequately manage and conserve the forest resources on Nis g a'a Lands.

34. Subject to sections 35 and 36 and the dispute resolution

rules adopted under

section 64, the Forestry Transition Committee will make a

determination under

section 33 within 45 days after receiving the submission.

35. Before concluding its evaluation of a forest development

plan, the Forestry Transition Committee may require the person who submitted the plan to

submit additional information that the committee reasonably requires to determine if the

plan meets the requirements specified in this Appendix.

36. If the Forestry Transition Committee makes a request under

section 35, the time period specified in

section 34 is extended by the period of time

between the request for additional information and the receipt of that information.

SILVICULTURE PRESCRIPTION REQUIREMENTS

37. Timber harvesting, other than that associated with roads,

must not occur under a licence without an approved silviculture prescription for the area.

38. The district manager will prepare a silviculture

prescription for an area where the holder of a licence referred to in paragraph 29 of the

Forest Resources

Chapter has cut, removed, damaged or destroyed timber on Nis g a'a

Lands in contravention of the forest practices legislation.

39. The holder of a major licence will prepare and obtain

approval of a silviculture prescription for an area where the holder has cut, removed,

damaged or destroyed timber on Nis g a'a Lands in contravention of the forest

practices legislation.

40. A person referred to in sections 38 and 39 may apply to the

district manager or the Forestry Transition Committee, as the case may be, for an

exemption from the requirement to have an approved silviculture prescription.

Content of a Silviculture Prescription

41. A silviculture prescription will:

a. be consistent with an approved forest development plan for the

area, unless it is a silviculture prescription referred to in

section 15;

b. contain all information required under the Forest Practices

Code of British Columbia Act and its regulations in respect of silviculture

prescriptions, unless that information is contained within an approved forest development

plan for the area; and

c. unless authorized by the district manager or the Forest Transition

Committee, as the case may be, be consistent with the relevant material specified for

similar sites and conditions contained within Ministry of Forests guidebook publications

associated with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and the

regulations under that Act.

Evaluation of a Silviculture Prescription

42. The Forestry Transition Committee or the district manager,

as the case may be:

a. may require that a silviculture prescription be referred to

resource agencies for review and comment; and

b. will approve a silviculture prescription that meets the

requirements of this Appendix unless it is determined that the silviculture prescription,

in respect of matters referred to in

section 41, does not adequately manage and conserve

the forest resources on Nis g a'a Lands.

43. Subject to sections 44 and 45 and the dispute resolution

rules adopted under

section 64, the Forestry Transition Committee will make a

determination under

section 42 within 45 snow free days after the silviculture

prescription being submitted for approval.

44. Before concluding the evaluation of a silviculture

prescription, the district manager or the Forestry Transition Committee, as the case may

be, may require the person who submitted the prescription to submit additional information

that the district manager or committee reasonably requires to determine if the

prescription meets the requirements of this Appendix.

45. If a request is made under

section 44, the time period

specified in

section 43 is extended by the period of time between the request for

additional information and the receipt of that information.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS

Cutting Permits

46. Subject to the dispute resolution rules adopted under

section 64, the district manager, or the Forestry Transition Committee, as the case may

be, will issue a cutting permit within 45 days after receiving an application for a

cutting permit if the district manager or Forestry Transition Committee determines that:

a. the person making the application has the right to harvest timber

and that right is not under suspension;

b. the application complies with the requirements specified in this

Appendix and any requirements specified in the licence; and

c. the application is completely consistent with all operational

plans approved for the area.

Road Permits and Road Use Permits

47. A holder of a licence must have a valid road use permit

issued by the Forestry Transition Committee to use a road for timber harvesting and

related activities, unless the road is:

a. a Crown road; or

b. under a valid road permit held by the holder.

48. The Nis g a'a Nation must have a valid road use permit

issued by the Forestry Transition Committee to use a road for timber harvesting and

related activities, if the road is:

a. a Crown road; or

b. subject to a valid road permit.

49. Subject to the dispute resolution rules adopted under

section 64, the district manager or Forestry Transition Committee, as the case may be,

will issue a road permit or road use permit within 45 snow free days after receiving an

application for a road permit or road use permit if the district manager or Forestry

Transition Committee determines that:

a. the person making the application has the right to harvest timber

and that right is not under suspension;

b. the application complies with the requirements specified in this

Appendix and any requirements specified in the licence; and

c. the application is completely consistent with all operational

plans approved for the area.

Burning Permits

50. Forest practices legislation with respect to burning

permits applies to:

a. timber harvesting and related activities by the holder of a

licence on Nis g a'a Lands; and

b. all persons carrying out timber harvesting and related activities

on Nis g a'a Lands during the transition period.

FOREST PRACTICES

Silviculture

51. A free growing stand will be established within the net

area to be reforested on all areas of Nis g a'a Lands harvested by the holder of a

licence during the transition period.

Forest Health

52. If the Forestry Transition Committee determines that there

are insects or diseases causing damage to a forest on an area of Nis g a'a Lands that

is subject to a holder of a licence's forest development plan, the district manager will,

in a notice given to the holder of the licence, order measures acceptable to the Forestry

Transition Committee to be undertaken within a specified time to control or dispose of the

insects or diseases.

FOREST OPERATIONS ON NIS G A'A LANDS

AFTER THE TRANSITION PERIOD

53. Timber felled under a valid cutting permit issued to the

holder of a licence may not be removed after the transition period, unless the holder of

the licence:

a. was unable to remove the timber prior to the end of the transition

period as a result of events beyond the holder's control; and

b. removes the timber within a period of not more than 30 days after

the Nis g a'a Nation and British Columbia determine that conditions allow for the

removal.

54. A road permit or road use permit issued before the end of

the transition period may authorize the holder of the permit to continue to use the road

referred to in the permit after the transition period, to the extent necessary to:

a. carry out fire hazard abatement activities;

b. fulfil silviculture obligations; and

c. complete road deactivation.

55. Activities referred to in

section 54 must be completed

within a reasonable time.

56. Until the activities referred to in sections 53 and 54 are

completed, the requirements of this Appendix continue to apply, to the extent necessary to

address those activities and their enforcement.

GENERAL

Nis g a'a Contractors

57. A licence referred to in paragraph 27 of the Forest

Resources

Chapter will require the holder of the licence to use Nis g a'a Contractors

to harvest, during each transition year, the following percentages of the actual volume

harvested under the licence:

year 1

50%;

year 2

70%;

year 3

70%;

year 4

70%; and

year 5

70%.

58. Contracts referred to in

section 57 will be for a term of

five years, or until the end of the transition period, whichever period is shorter.

59. Notwithstanding

section 57, in any transition year, the

holder of a licence is relieved from the requirement in that

section to the extent that no

Nis g a'a Contractor is reasonably available to carry out full phase logging of the

required volume within that transition year.

Forestry Transition Committee

60. The Forestry Transition Committee consists of:

a. the district manager or person authorized by the district manager;

and

b. a person authorized by the Nis g a'a Nation.

61. British Columbia and the Nis g a'a Nation are each

responsible for the respective costs associated with their member of the Forestry

Transition Committee.

62. The Forestry Transition Committee has the following

mandate:

a. to evaluate all matters associated with operational plans, and

permits referred to it in paragraph 33 of the Forest Resources Chapter, including

approvals, amendments, extensions and exemptions;

b. to annually evaluate and report on the cut control status of each

holder of a licence to which

section 3 applies and to impose any resultant cut control

reductions;

c. to determine the volume of timber, if any, available under

section

9 for harvesting by the Nis g a'a Nation; and

d. to provide to British Columbia, the Nis g a'a Nation and

Canada an annual report concerning:

i. the cut control status, and

ii. the expenses incurred by the Forestry Transition Committee

during the preceding transition year.

63. The Forestry Transition Committee is not responsible for

the completeness and accuracy of information provided to it by British Columbia, the Nis g a'a

Nation or the holder of a major licence.

Dispute Resolution

64. The Forestry Transition Committee will adopt rules for

arbitration of disputes referred to in paragraph 38 of the Forest Resources Chapter.

65. The rules referred to in

section 64 will provide that,

unless the members of the Forestry Transition Committee otherwise agree, any arbitration

will be resolved within 45 days.

Annual Reporting

66. British Columbia will, for each year of the transition

period, provide to the Nis g a'a Nation a

summary of compliance and enforcement

activities on Nis g a'a Lands.

67. British Columbia will, on a quarterly basis, provide to the

Nis g a'a Nation a

summary of timber marking and scale returns on Nis g a'a

Lands.

Same Economic Position

68. British Columbia will pay to the Nis g a'a Nation an

amount for each cubic metre of timber harvested by a holder of a licence during the

transition period.

69. The amount referred to in

section 68 will be:

a. $6 per cubic metre; or

b. if either billed stumpage or industry performance exceeds $6 per

cubic metre:

i. billed stumpage determined in accordance with the Ministry of

Forests Interior Appraisal Manual, and

ii. industry performance up to a maximum of $10 per cubic metre,

determined as the value per cubic metre of the timber as at the date of scaling on the

Vancouver Log Market, less the appraised operating costs per cubic metre for that volume.

70. British Columbia and the Nis g a'a Nation will

determine a conversion factor for estimating the Vancouver Log Market value of timber

harvested on Nis g a'a Lands by species and grade.

71. The operating costs referred to in subsection

69 (b) (ii) will be the costs associated with each timber mark on Nis g a'a

Lands as determined in accordance with the Ministry of Forests Interior Appraisal Manual,

and will include the following:

a. development costs;

b. harvesting costs;

c. transportation costs, including any barging cost adjustment;

d. administration costs;

e. post-logging treatment costs;

f. silviculture costs; and

g. stumpage costs.

72. The amounts referred to in subsections 69 (

a) and (b) (ii)

will be adjusted annually for inflation using the Canada Final Domestic Demand Implicit

Price Index, as agreed to by the Nis g a'a Nation and British Columbia, commencing on

the second anniversary of the effective date.

73. Every three months, British Columbia will pay to the Nis g a'a

Nation the amount referred to in subsection 69 (a).

74. In addition to the payment referred to in

section 73,

British Columbia will pay to the Nis g a'a Nation, on a semi-annual basis unless

otherwise agreed to by British Columbia and the Nis g a'a Nation, an amount equal to

the difference between the amount calculated under subsection 69 (

b) and the amount that

was paid under

section 73.

75. British Columbia will provide the Nis g a'a Nation

with quarterly reports on the volume of timber harvested from Nis g a'a Lands by

timber mark, specifying:

a. species and grade;

b. scale date; and

c. billed stumpage.

76. British Columbia will provide the Nis g a'a Nation

with a report on operating costs by timber mark at the same frequency as specified in

section 74.

77. British Columbia will pay the Nis g a'a Nation any

amount recovered from a holder of a licence for having negligently caused or contributed

to a forest fire on Nis g a'a Lands during the transition period.

78. The amount referred to in

section 77 will be net of any

reasonable costs incurred by British Columbia in controlling or suppressing a forest fire

on Nis g a'a Lands.

SCHEDULE 1

Map of Forestry Transition period planning criteria for forest development

plans

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