EACOM Timber Corporation - Forest management plan

Proposal update

This notice was updated on June 3, 2019 to clarify that the formal consultation period for Stage 3 is from May 27, 2019 to July 25, 2019 (60 days). Stage Three Information Centre; Review of Proposed Operations has changed to May 27, 2019. Please see the planning process for Stages 1 and Stage 2 on the old Environmental Registry by searching Registry number 013-1207 at https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca  

Proposal details

The forest management plan for the Spanish Forest for the period of April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2030 is being prepared.

The plan is being prepared in accordance with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994), the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017), and Declaration Order MNR-75 - MNRF's environmental assessment requirements for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario.

The forest management plan will provide for the sustainability of the Crown forest on the management until, and will outline the long-term strategic direction and objectives related to:

• sustainability of the forest resource
• biodiversity
• social and economic matters (including timber harvest levels)
• the provision of forest cover for those values which are dependent on forest cover
• silviculture

Description

The Spanish Forest lies generally to the north and west of the City of Greater Sudbury, north and east of the town of Massey, east and southeast of the town of Chapleau, and south and southwest of Gogama. Three communities - Cartier, Sultan and Biscotasing - are located within the area. Highway 144 bisects the eastern half of the unit as it runs north/south between Sudbury and Timmins. The total area of the Spanish Forest is approximately 12,450 square kilometres.

The Spanish Forest is located in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region to the south and in the Boreal Forest Region to the north. The dominant tree species on the forest are jack pine, black spruce, white birch and poplar. The south-central portion also contains a significant component of white and red pine. Lesser amounts of maple, yellow birch, white spruce, cedar, larch, balsam fir and black ash are also found on the unit.

The Spanish Forest has been managed under Sustainable Forest Licence #542391 by EACOM Timber Corporation. It is the main supplier of softwood timber to EACOM’s mill in Nairn Center. The residual softwood chips from this operation are sent to Domtar’s pulp and paper mill in Espanola. This mill also receives round wood from the forest. Sawmills in Timmins, Ostrom, Sault Ste. Marie and Thessalon also receive significant amounts of softwood timber from the Spanish Forest. Hardwood species are used mainly by TrueNorth Plywood Cochrane veneer plant, and Georgia Pacific’s oriented strand board plant in Englehart. Hardwood is also supplied to mills in Sault Ste. Marie, Thessalon and Wawa. Several other mills receive smaller amounts of wood from the Spanish Forest.

Other information

Information about the forest management planning process, information which will be used in the preparation of the plan, and background information about the management unit can be reviewed during normal office hours at the Ministry's Sudbury District office. It is recommended that persons make an appointment for viewing. This background information may also be viewed during non-business hours by making an appointment with the government contact person listed in the notice.

An alternate to the government contact for this notice is:

Ryan Milne, R.P.F.
Plan Author
EACOM Timber Corporation – Timmins Sawmill
267 McChesney Road, P.O. Box 150
Timmins, ON P4N 7C9
Ryan.milne@eacom.ca
Phone: 705-267-3339 ext: 235

Consultation Opportunities

In accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual, formal public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation is planned to occur at five stages during the preparation, review and approval of this plan. The Forest Management Planning Manual sets out that direct written notice is required to be given to certain individuals and organizations at each stage of the planning process; individuals and organizations may request to be added to this list, which is updated at each stage. Media notice is also given through advertisements in local newspapers.

The following is a summary of the public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation:

Stage One: Invitation to Participate: September 25, 2017.

Stage Two: Review of  Long Term Management Direction: January 30, 2019.

Stage Three: Information Centre; Review of Proposed Operations: May 27, 2019.

There is one other formal public consultation, and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation opportunities tentatively scheduled as follows:

Stage Four: Information Centre; Review of Draft Forest Management Plan: October, 2019.

Stage Five - Inspection of Ministry-Approved Forest Management Plan: January, 2020.

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing April 1, 2020.

All comments and submissions received for Stages One to Four will be considered as part of the decision-making by the ministry. Under the public consultation provisions and First Nation and Métis involvement and consultation provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual, a written response will be provided to all written comments and submission, and upon request, to all verbal comments received that relate to the Long-Term Management Direction or Proposed Operations.. All comments and submissions will become part of the public record. Stage Five is an inspection period only. No comments are being sought at that stage.

There is an opportunity during the forest management planning process to seek resolution of issues in accordance with the process described in Part A, Section 2.4.1 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).

During the 30-day inspection period, tentatively scheduled December 2019 through January 2020, you may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 1st Floor, 135 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 for an individual environmental assessment of specific planned operations in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - approved forest management plan, in accordance with the process described in Part A. Section 2.4.2 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).