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Summary of SFI Audit Results
This report summarizes the results of the second
surveillance audit conducted on Port Blakely Tree Farms LP’s
(PBTF) SFI program for forest management operations. Jack
Ward, Bureau Veritas Certification Lead Auditor, conducted
the audit 5/23/2007 through 5/23/2007. Jim Rochelle, PhD
assisted the lead auditor as a Wildlife Technical Expert.
The SFI Surveillance Audit (S-#2) was conducted for Port
Blakely Tree Farms, LP (PBTF) at its Northwest Oregon Tree
Farm District and the Tumwater, WA headquarters office May
22-23, 2007.
The scope of the audit was to review selected SFI indicators
as they relate to PBTF’s Washington and Oregon forest
management operations. The objectives of the audit were to
establish conformance of PBTF’s SFI program against the SFI
2005-2009 standard and to establish whether PBTF’s SFI
program management system and on-the-ground activities
conform to the SFI standard. The objective of this audit was
to review documentation and sample field operations in
Oregon to assess conformance of PBTF’s SFI program against
applicable indicators of Objectives 1-7 and 9-13 of the SFI
2005-2009 Standard. Specifically, two objectives of the SFI
audit were to:
- Verify that the Program Participant’s SFI Program is
in conformance with the SFI Objectives, Performance
Measures, and Indicators, and any additional indicators
that the Program Participant chooses, and
- Verify whether the Program Participant has
effectively implemented its SFI Standard program
requirements on the ground.
The current version of PBTF’s corporate and SFI policy
and procedure manuals were used for documentation of the
management system. Standard Bureau Veritas Certification
protocols and forms were applied throughout the audit as
provided by the most recent SFI Auditor Handbook.
The audit began in the NW Oregon District office near
Mollala, Oregon on 5/22/2007 with an opening meeting. The
objectives for the surveillance audit were outlined and the
audit process for collecting evidence and making audit
findings was explained. Findings of non-conformance and
opportunities for improvement were also explained. The audit
plan was discussed and agreed to, and time and date of the
closing meeting was confirmed. There was no substitution or
modifications of SFI indicators. Chris Lunde, District
Forester and PBTF’s SFI Representative was present
throughout the audit.
The closing meeting was held in the Tumwater, Washington
headquarters office on 5/23/2007. The findings of two
opportunities for improvement and four notable practices
were discussed. Since there were no non-conformances issued
during the audit, the Lead Auditor issued a recommendation
for continued certification to the SFIS 2005-2009 edition.
Both the opening and closing meetings were attended by BV
auditor Jack Ward, PBTF SFI representative Chris Lunde and
several PBTF personnel. Wildlife Technical Expert, Jim
Rochelle, PhD attended the opening meeting, reviewed all of
the field sites and provided his written and oral summary to
the lead auditor. Opening and closing meeting attendance
records are on file and a copy of each was provided to the
company.
Five (5) field sites were visited during the Surveillance
audit. PBTF provided a matrix of all forest management
activities that occurred since the last surveillance audit
in May of 06 which ranked the sites by environmental risk
and “richness” (#indicators available for review at the
site). The lead auditor chose the units to be reviewed
during the opening meeting and Five (5) field sites were
reviewed, namely: Head Grouse; Family Ant; Hibbard Hillside;
Kiggins Eastwester; and Engstrom Thinning. The list of
harvest operations provided was later verified against the
accounting department’s CT3 Log Management System’s Setting
Volume Summary Report.
Findings:
Non-Conformances Issued: No non-conformances were
issued during the surveillance audit.
Opportunities for Improvement: Two (2) opportunities
for improvement were identified during this audit. These
need to be considered in light of how they may affect
conformance during future audits.
Obj. 2; PM 2.2; I-1: Consider a statement addressing the
intent of this indicator in the PBTF Silviculture BMP
document and consider developing a consistent set of metrics
for demonstrating conformance with this indicator
Obj. 10; PM 10.1; I-4: Consider formally adopting WA SIC
contractor training recommendations as PBTF policy in both
WA & OR.
Notable Practices: Four (4) notable practices were
identified during this audit. These represent SFI program
strengths that Bureau Veritas found to be exemplary
practices.
Objective 2; PM 2.3; I-4: The implementation of mitigation
measures to minimize impacts from harvesting and roads to
the Mollala District “Family Ant” unit is commendable.
Obj. 2; PM 2.4; I-3: The practice of maintaining Wildland
Fire Fighter Certification for multiple PBTF staff is a
notable.
Obj. 4; PM4; I-1: The recently-initiated multi-year harvest
plan review process provides for consideration of
environmental sensitivities, T&E survey needs and special
site protection measures well in advance of harvest,
allowing timely plan adjustments.
Obj. 12; PM 12.2; I-2- PBTF’s forestry education program’s
continue to be exemplary.
For more information on the SFI program, visit their website at:
www.sfiprogram.org.
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