Download Oversight - What Does a New Licensee Needs to Know?

Oversight - What Does a
New Licensee Needs to
Know?
Presentation to TLA – Forestry 102
January 15, 2014 – Vancouver, BC
Chris Mosher, CA, EP(CEA)
The independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices in British Columbia.
4 Key Questions for
new Licensees!
• What is oversight?
• Who conducts this oversight?
• Why do they conduct this
oversight?
• How could this oversight impact
you?
Overview
2.
What is Oversight?
o·ver·sight
ˈōvərˌsīt/
noun
noun: oversight; plural noun: oversights
1. an unintentional failure to notice or do something.
"he said his failure to pay for the tickets was an oversight"
synonyms:mistake, error, omission, lapse, slip, blunder;
2. the action of overseeing something.
"effective oversight of the financial reporting process“
For this discussion, we are focusing on definition
#2 – “The action of overseeing something”. In
other words, big brother is watching!!!
Question #1
3.
Who Conducts this
Oversight?
• Compliance and Enforcement
(C&E)
• Forest and Range Evaluation
Program (FREP)
•Forest Practices Board (FPB)
Question #2
4.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
Compliance and Enforcement Resources
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural
Resource Operations
 170 C&E staff distributed in 43 field unit,
regional and headquarters offices
 Distributed amongst 8 sub-regions and
headquarters
 Some limited additional staff resources
throughout the province who have some
compliance verification duties
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
Compliance and Enforcement
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural
Resource Operations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Forest Act
Forest and Range Practices Act
Wildfire Act
Range Act
Lands Act
Forest Recreation Regulation
Water Act
Wildlife Act
Fisheries Act
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
Statistical Context
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural
Resource Operations (2011-12)
6689 Inspections
1493 Compliance Actions (22%)
248 Enforcement Actions (3.7%)
•Tickets – 191 ($59,350)
•Determinations - 111
•Penalties – ($115,114)
•Remediation Orders – 3
•Other – GNC: 0; Orders to Vacate: 16
(Compliance & Enforcement Branch Annual Report)
The FREP Mission:
...communicating science-based information to enhance the
knowledge of resource professionals and inform balanced
decision making and continuous improvement...
8
FREP Sample Locations
• Over 8000
assessments done
• Operational decisions
impact many of these
values
• Riparian, water
quality and soils are
where particular
opportunities for good
stewardship exist
9
Lots of information available via the FREP website
 Reports & Extension
Notes
 YouTube videos
 Assistant Deputy
Minister Reports
 Dozens of other
extension products
10
Google “FREP” or go to http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/frep/
11.
To serve the public interest as the
independent watchdog for sound
forest and range practices in British
Columbia.
FPB Mission
12.
The Board encourages:
• Sound forest and range practices
that warrant public confidence
• Fair and equitable application of the
Forest and Range Practices Act
(FRPA) and the Wildfire Act (WA)
• Continuing improvements in forest
and range practices
FPB Fundamental Purpose
What we do:
• Audits – must undertake audits of
compliance & enforcement of FRPA and
WA
• Investigations – must deal with public
complaints; may conduct special
investigations
• Appeals – may appeal decisions to the
Forest Appeals Commission
• Reporting – must report findings to
public & government
• Recommendations – may make
recommendations
FPB Mandate
4.
14.
Audit Selection
• A District is selected randomly
• Based on key issues (visuals, forest
health, fisheries, etc.), Board
strategic priorities, and who we
have already audited in that district
– a licensee, or a group of licensees
are selected
• Ensures audits are focused on key
issues, include different licence
sizes and types, and are relevant to
the public
FPB Compliance Audits
15.
Why Do They Conduct
this Oversight?
•
In the Natural Resource context
in British Columbia, there is
legislated oversight because you
are operating on Crown Land.
• Since Crown Land is a public
asset, the public wants assurance
that the asset is being properly
taken care of.
Question #3
How Could this
Oversight Impact You?
•
When you take on the
responsibility of a forest licence,
you are agreeing to operate
according to legislation.
• The oversight bodies are there to
provide the public with assurance
that you are operating according to
legislation – your “Social
Licence”.
Question #4
16.
How Could this
Oversight Impact You?
• If you perform well and follow the
legislative requirements:
• Positive recognition of a job well
done.
• Likelihood of maintaining or
renewing your forest licence.
• Maintain your “Social Licence.”
Question #4
17.
18.
What we have seen Compliant
19.
20.
21.
22.
How Could this
Oversight Impact You?
• If you do not perform well and do
not follow the legislative
requirements:
•
•
•
Potential stop work Orders, and / or
Financial Penalties.
Potential that your licence will not be
renewed.
Negative recognition – lack of
“Social Licence”.
Question #4
23.
24.
What we have seen – Not
Compliant
25.
26.
What we have seen – Not
Compliant
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
What we have seen – Not
Compliant
32.
• By taking on the responsibility of a
forest licence, you are taking on the
responsibility of properly managing a
public asset, according to the laws of
the Province.
• It is a big responsibility, but hopefully
your operation will also produce big
rewards.
• Work hard at maintaining your “Social
Licence” and you will have no concerns
with whatever level of oversight is sent
your way.
Conclusions
33.
Remember – Signs Don’t Always
Work!
www.fpb.gov.bc.ca
[email protected] | 1-800-994-5899