Regulation - LGIC
Amendment to Ontario Regulation 160/04 - Independent Forest Audits under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994
Regulation Number(s):
160/04
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Crown Forest Sustainability Act
Summary of Decision:
The proposal was implemented by an amendment to O. Reg. 160/04 (Independent Forest Audit) by O. Reg. 54/12. O.Reg 54/12 was filed by the Registrar of Regulations on April 18, 2012.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
11-MNR004
Posting Date:
March 14, 2011
Summary of Proposal:
An Independent Forest Audit (IFA) assesses compliance of forest management activities with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA), the forest management planning (FMP) process and planned versus actual forest management activities. The IFA also assesses the effectiveness of forest management activities in achieving management objectives and, where applicable, assesses a licensee's compliance with the terms and conditions of a Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL). The CFSA requires that each management unit in the province be independently audited at least once every five years.
The five-year interval between audits is an appropriate period over which to assess compliance and effectiveness of forest management activities. A regulation change is being proposed to allow the interval between audits to be extended (in limited circumstances) up to seven years in order to properly align the audit, the FMP process, and the licence review.
In addition, a number of "housekeeping" changes are being proposed to the regulation for consistency of terminology with other directional documents such as MNR's Environmental Assessment Act approval for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario (Declaration Order MNR-71).
The five-year interval between audits is an appropriate period over which to assess compliance and effectiveness of forest management activities. A regulation change is being proposed to allow the interval between audits to be extended (in limited circumstances) up to seven years in order to properly align the audit, the FMP process, and the licence review.
In addition, a number of "housekeeping" changes are being proposed to the regulation for consistency of terminology with other directional documents such as MNR's Environmental Assessment Act approval for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario (Declaration Order MNR-71).
Contact Address:
Effective Date:
April 18, 2012
Decision:
Approved