Red Lake Forest Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010

Management Unit Action Plan

Red Lake Forest Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010

Action Plan Introduction

The final audit report was received by MNR and Red Lake Forest Management Company Ltd. (RLFMC) on September 2, 2011. The 2010 IFA Process and Protocol MNR requires than an action plan in response to the audit report be prepared and approved by the MNR. The action plan is to be submitted within 2 months of receipt of the final audit report. The completed draft action plan was submitted for review on September 27, 2011. Regional comments were provided November 1, 2011. Following action plan resubmission November 18, 2011 and receipt of regional and corporate comments November 19, 2011 the action plan was finalized November 24, 2011. The audit identified nine recommendations in the final report directed at the Management Unit that are addressed in this action plan. This action plan provides a description of the actions required, details on who is responsible and timeliness for each of the action items as well as methods of tracking progress. The recommendation related to licence extension will be addressed in the separate 2010 Provincial Action Plan.

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Recommendations

Recommendation #1 The audit team recommends that MNR consider formally including Métis people in its invitation to participate in the forest management planning process.

Actions Required: 1) The MNR will update the Red Lake Forest FMP mailing list to include the Métis Nation of Ontario. 2) When notices for the invitation to participate for the forest management planning process are issued notices will be sent to the Métis Nation of Ontario. Responsibility: 1) MNR Red Lake District (Area Supervisor) 2) MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester) Completion Date: 1) Added to mailing list March 2010. 2) Ongoing beginning with 2011-12 Red Lake Forest Annual Work Schedule approval notification. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Mailing List 2) Invitation to participate notices and records that document notices were sent to the Métis Nation of Ontario (e.g. copy of mailing list or specifically addressed notices).

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Recommendation #2 The audit team recommends that RLFMC amend the 2008-2018 FMP to include required detail in the management unit description. Actions Required: 1) RLFMC will review the 2008-2018 FMP management unit description and in consultation with the MNR, prepare an amendment to the FMP to expand the management unit description. This expansion will address the reliability of forecasts/assumptions of the planning inventory, the implications of the boundary dispute with the adjoining Whisky Jack Forest, the implications of the proposed expansion of the Woodland Caribou Park, the consequences of patent land within the Red Lake Forest, and the implications of the age class imbalance. Responsibility: 1) Prepare amendment: RLFMC (Plan Author). MNR review and approval: MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester), MNR Red Lake District (District Manager). Completion Date: 1) April 1,2012. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Amendment to Red Lake Forest 2008-2018 FMP.

Recommendation #3:

The audit team recommends that RLFMC and MNR review the balance of plan objectives in the 2008-2018 FMP and determine if values other than wood supply have been fully considered in the plan. This review should occur in advance of completing Phase 2 operational planning. Actions Required: 1) The Year Three Annual Report requires a discussion of the first three years of implementation of forest operations including any implications on the achievement of the long-term management direction. Progress on achievement of management plan objectives is an integral part of the achievement of the long-term management direction. Endorsement of the year Three Annual Report is required prior to initiation of Phase 2 operational planning. RLFMC and the MNR will complete a review of the balance of FMP objectives, particularly the relationship between wood supply and habitat for marten and other wildlife species that prefer older conifer as part of the Year Three Annual Report.

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Responsibility: 1) Year 3 AR: RLFMC (Plan Author) (lead), MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester); Review: MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester), MNR NWR (FMP Specialist); Endorsement: MNR NWR (Regional Director) Completion Date: 1) Year 3 Annual Report to be submitted November 15, 2011 with review and endorsement by March 1,2012. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Year 3 Annual Report submission, review documentation and endorsement.

Recommendation #4:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL amend the 2008-2018 FMP to provide clarity regarding waste fibre management to reclaim productive land. This new direction must then be consistently implemented. Actions Required: 1) RLFMC will prepare an amendment to the 2008-2018 FMP to provide clarity around debris management direction utilizing the June 2011 Northwest Region Forest Management Planning Direction. MNR will review and approve the amendment. 2) RLFMC will amend the block sign-off form to specifically require acknowledgement of the debris management responsibilities of the Overlapping Licensees. 3) SFL generated FOIP reports will be required to comment on the status of compliance with the FMP direction on debris management. 4) RLFMC will prepare an inventory of existing locations of un-managed debris and where applicable, prepare amelioration plans to recover the loss of productive land. 5) The AWS will identify the location of slash and chipper debris piles scheduled for operations, the operations to be conducted, and the scheduled regeneration treatments. Responsibility: 1) Prepare amendment: RLFMC (Plan Author). MNR review and approval: MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester), MNR Red Lake District (District Manager). 2) RLFMC (Operations Forester) 3) RLFMC (Operations Forester) 4) RLFMC (Operations Forester) 5) RLFMC (Operations Forester)

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Completion Date: 1) April 1,2012. 2) Completed October 31,2011. 3) Ongoing beginning November 1, 2011. 4) Inventory of existing locations October 31, 2012. 5) The schedule of operations and regeneration treatments identified in the 2011/12 AWS and ongoing. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Red Lake Forest 2008-2018 FMP. 2) Red Lake Forest operations sign-off sheet for 2012/13 harvest blocks and ongoing for future harvest blocks. 3) FOIP reports. 4) Debris management inventory. 5) AWS scheduled locations and operations, annual report of actual operations.

Recommendation #5:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL ensure that operational roads in caribou blocks be purposefully rehabilitated in accordance with the FMP. Actions Required: 1) RLFMC will prepare an inventory of operational roads and corresponding blocks within the caribou habitat zone where operational road rehabilitation is prescribed in the 2003-2023 and 2008-2018 FMPs and is required during the 2008-2013 and 2013-2018 terms of the FMP. This action will be ongoing for future FMPs. 2) RLFMC will identify in the appropriate AWS, the location of operational roads scheduled for decommissioning and rehabilitation and the operations to be conducted including the scheduled regeneration treatments. Responsibility: 1) RLFMC (Operations Forester) 2) RLFMC (Operations Forester) Completion Date: 1) March 31, 2012. 2) Beginning with the 2012/13 AWS and Ongoing.

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Tracking Mechanism:

1) Road de-activation inventory. 2) AWS submissions, FOIP reports and Annual Reports of completed road rehabilitation and regeneration activities.

Recommendation #6:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL ensure that all water crossing installations are completed according to all required aspects of the Environmental Guidelines for Access Roads and Water Crossings. Actions Required: 1)

RLFMC will initiate a water crossing check list to document the preparation of a pre-water crossing installation inspection, the verification of a water crossing installation FOIP report and a final inspection to verify that water crossings have been completed in accordance with the FMP requirements, which include the mandatory requirements of the Environmental Guidelines for Access Roads and Water Crossings. This check list will be attached to the block sign-off list. Responsibility:

1) RLFMC (Operations Forester) Completion Date: 1 ) Completed October 31,2011. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Completed check list attached to harvest block folders, FOIP reports.

Recommendation #7:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL ensure that water flow is not impeded by road construction and forest harvesting activities. Actions Required: 1)

RLFMC will expand the harvest block check-off list to include a descriptor that acknowledges the overlapping licensee is aware of and understands all harvesting and road construction activities are to employ measures (e.g. proper installation and maintenance of cross drains, avoid blocking of ditches such as by wood piles or slash debris) to ensure water movement is not impeded by road construction and harvesting activities.

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2)

RLFMC will provide training when compliance inspections or other monitoring indicates that overlapping licensees have not followed direction to ensure that water flow is not impeded. Responsibility:

1) RLFMC (Operations Forester) 2) RLFMC (Operations Forester) Completion Date: 1 ) Completed October 31,2011. 2) Ongoing beginning November 1,2011. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Red Lake Forest operations harvest block check-off sheet. 2) Compliance inspection reports; records of training.

Recommendation #8:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL ensure that all aggregate pits are properly rehabilitated during periods of inactivity. Actions Required: 1) RLFMC will prepare an amendment to the 2008-2018 FMP to include the requirements of the 2009 FMPM Appendix VII, Operational Standards for Forestry Aggregate Pits. 2) RLFMC will monitor aggregate pits on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the FMP for forestry aggregate pits and all regulatory requirements of the Aggregate Resources Act for category 9 pits, including that of ensuring that all aggregate pit faces be sloped at the angle of repose when sites are inactive. Responsibility: 1) Prepare amendment: RLFMC (Plan Author). MNR review and approval: MNR Red Lake North (Area Forester), MNR Red Lake District (District Manager). 2) RLFMC (Operations Forester) Completion Date: 1 ) December 19,2011. 2) Ongoing beginning November 1, 2011.

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Tracking Mechanism:

1) Amendment to Red Lake Forest 2008-2018 FMP 2) FOIP reports

Recommendation #9:

The audit team recommends that RLFMCL and MNR ensure that Annual Reports are complete and accurate. Actions Required: 1) RLFMC will ensure that annual report tables and text are complete and are accurate, including by checking that text references match tables, figures in the reports match corresponding FMP figures, and the required discussion is provided in accordance with the requirements of the 2009 FMPM. A checklist of items that need to be reviewed to ensure annual reports are complete and accurate will be developed and used prior to the submission of annual reports. 2) The MNR will review the Annual Report as per requirements of the FMPM and where necessary, RLFMC will resubmit the Annual Report addressing the MNR review comments. Responsibility: 1) RLFMC (Plan Author) 2) MNR Red Lake District (Area Forester) Completion Date: 1) November 11, 2011, and ongoing annually; November 15, 2012 (checklist) 2) December 15, 2011 resubmission within 60 days of receipt of MNR comments, and ongoing annually. Tracking Mechanism: 1) Annual reports as submitted, checklist. 2) Notice of MNR review provided to SFL holder and any comments associated with that review, resubmitted Annual Report addressing review comments; accepted Annual Report.

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