Timmins Local Citizens Committee
Minutes of December12, 2012
December12, 2012
LCC hours: 60 hours
Year to Date: 416
Total: 6489.4
Date: December 12, 2012
Location: Ontario Government Complex, Fire Boardroom
Present: Bill Russell, Robert Calhoun, Kees Stryland, Bob Bielek, Barry Edwards, Rusty Fink, Ron Johnson, Marc Lapalme, Marcel Cook, Jody Russell, Lino Morandin, Scott Tam, Kees Pols,
Regrets: James Naveau, Gail Krawchuk, Jenny Millson, Mark Joron, Allan Moyle, Andy Chartrand, Stefanie Thibeault, Dave Stringer
Absent:
MNR: Glen McFarlane, Nikki Wood, Mac Kilgour, Adam Challis, Todd Copeland
Public: Marcel Lapalme
Guests: Paul Fantin, Planning Forester, FRMG
Call to Order: Bill Russell called the meeting to order at 6:45 pm
Summary of Action Items for This Meeting:
Action Item 12-12-01: Nikki Wood will keep the Timmins LCC members informed of the issues as the plan moves forward towards approval and will assist with the endorsement process.
Review and Approval of October 24, 2012 Minutes:
Motion to accept- Robert Calhoun
Seconded by- Ron Johnson
All in favour-Carried
Review and Approval of tonight’s agenda:
Motion to accept- Bob Bielek
Seconded by- Kees Pols
All in favour-Carried
Letters/Correspondence
A letter was received by a concerned resident, Mrs. Bielek, regarding a planned harvest block, adjacent to her property and described in the 2013-23 Abitibi River Forest Management Plan. She is still seeking a response to the issues she has with the cut block boundary.
Jodie Russell will represent the Timmins Fur Council on the Timmins LCC.
District Manager Update- Glen McFarlane provided the members with an update on the behalf of the District Manager as follows:
Timmins has filled all vacancies with contract positions while transformation takes place; currently, the Resource Liaison Officer, Land Use Planner and Senior Lands Specialist positions are being backfilled and four Area Technician positions are filled with contract staff.
The District office received a call from the Timmins Square about a bear cub that was getting into the garbage dumpsters at the rear of the building. MNR responded to the call and subsequently tranquilized a small bear cub that had decided to hibernate in a small green belt Area just a few feet from the dumpsters. The cub was recovered and taken to a bear orphanage located in Huntsville where it will be allowed to re-gain its health and be released next year back to the wild.
Abitibi River Forest 2013-23 FMP- Paul Fantin
Paul provided the Timmins LCC with an update on the forest management planning process for the 2013 Abitibi River Forest Plan that is now entering into phase 5 of the planning stage. He provided the following points (presentation attached):
The ARF plan is moving to phase 5 of the planning stage which is seeking Regional Director approval
As part of that same process, the Planning Team is also seeking LCC recommendation/endorsement for approval
The forest manager will manage 2.3 million hectares; majority of the area is classified as boreal forest
The forest units have been aggregated so that they will react similarly to the same management treatment
The plan will manage the forest landscape through emulation of natural forest succession
Objectives and targets to be achieved, will be monitored through time
The focus for wildlife is on local species such as ruffed grouse, black back woodpecker, lynx, marten, moose, black bear etc.
Marten cores will be managed in southern portion of the forest.
Caribou plan will impact about 20% of forest wood supply; See attached presentation denoting Social Economic Impact Model showing implications of reduced wood volumes.
Total harvest area planned for the 10 year plan is approximately 136,000 ha.
Phase 1 plans to harvest approximately 70,500 ha.
Planned renewal efforts for the 10 year plan include approximately 95,000 ha. of natural regeneration and 39,000 ha. of artificial and artificial supplemental regeneration
Planned site preparation includes approximately 28,000 ha of mechanical, 12,000 ha of chemical and 400 ha of slash pile burning
Planned tending includes approximately 53,000 ha. of chemical and 1,000 ha. of manual
Planned access for the next 10 years includes 433 kms. Of primary road of which 351 will be built in phase 1. 1117 kms of branch roads will be built over next 10 years of which 631 will be built in phase 1
There is currently 3,539 kms. of road under all three classes existing on the ARF.
Still a number of issues to be resolved before plan approval which include buffers on Departure lake and Trout Creek, Red Sucker LUP, caribou blocks and access issues, NEOMA concerns over caribou plan
Following Paul’s presentation there were a few questions as follows:
Q: Does marten core relate to marten populations?
A: No, the forest management plan is meant to manage for marten habitat, not population.
Q: There is an issue related to a property owner on Ice chest Lake Road; there was no mention of this issue in your presentation. Will you deal with this issue soon?
A: We met three times on this issue; I thought that it had been resolved. I will meet again shortly to discuss with the land owner.
The next steps towards plan approval are a presentation on December 18th with the Regional Director, final submission and public notice scheduled for January 17, 2013.
Following the presentation there was a general discussion regarding the issues still outstanding in Timmins District with the plan. They included issues with a trap line and issues with two separate property owners.
The chair man stated that due to the local issues still outstanding, the Timmins LCC will not endorse the plan until such time that these issues have been rendered a decision or a re-course obtained. The LCC members agreed to this direction.
Action Item 12-12-01: Nikki Wood will keep the Timmins LCC members informed of the issues as the plan moves forward towards approval and will assist with the endorsement process.
Improving Operational Planning using LIDAR and GIS- Lino Morandin
Lino provided the members with a presentation on the use of computerized systems to assist in operational planning. The following represents main points of his discussion:
Tembec has LIDAR coverage for the whole RMF
Stands for Light Image Detection and Ranging
Sends out radar type signals and measures 3D
The images provide a topographic type display which easily provides drainage distinction patterns
Great use for road location, hydrology/cross drainage patterns and assists with culvert placement.
Imagery also great for height measurements of stands of trees, forest unit identification and provides as a great tool to identify volume estimates, residuals and leave patches.
LIDAR estimated volumes against actual scaled volumes; very close in comparison
Following Lino’s presentation, there was time for questions as follows:
Q- How much money was invested in these tools
A- The cost works out to approximately 1.00/ha. At this cost, the information is invaluable. The landscape information can be used forever and the vegetation information is good for 10 years.
The Chair man thanked Lino for his presentation.
RMF Update- Nikki Wood, Rusty Fink
The Annual Report is still under review
The Phase 2 Planning team will be scheduled to meet early in the New Year.
Round Table Discussions-All
Interesting meeting
Very interesting presentation on LIDAR
Good learning experience
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm
Next Meeting is scheduled for January 30, 2013 at the Fire Boardroom of the OGC.
Please contact Gail Krawchuk at gga@ntl.sympatico.ca if you cannot attend.
Minutes typed by: Minutes approved by:
…………………… …………………………
Gail Krawchuk Bill Russell
LCC Secretary Chair