There are growing calls for residents to know what led to a slide above Cherryville.
It`s anticipated that compliance and enforcement staff will present a report to local Ministry of Forests officials by the end of April on the 2012 slide on Cherry Ridge. However, privacy legislation prevents the ministry from releasing the full findings to the public.
“We`d like it to be a public document,” said Hank Cameron, Cherryville director, adding that the community wants to ensure safety is a priority when logging occurs in the future. “We`re looking for a better standard of stewardship.”
Also urging the ministry to release the full investigation is the Forest Practises Board.
“It should be public no differently than a drunk driving charge or illegal hunting,” Tim Ryan, FPB chairperson, told the Regional District of North Okanagan board Wednesday.
If the FPB is not satisfied with the outcome of the ministry process, it could investigate the slide further.
“If we do a complaint investigation, it will be fully public,” said Ryan.
The FPB received a complaint about the slide four years ago but suspended its activities because the ministry`s compliance and enforcement branch began its own investigation into the incident.
Cherryville residents have been in an ongoing conflict with B.C. Timber Sales, a government agency, over proposed logging on Cherry Ridge and access to hydrology and soil reports.
“If you feel BCTS or any licensee is not sharing information, we will try to pull the parties together. We do a lot of facilitation work,” said Dave Clarke, FPB executive director.
