Rayonier Advanced Materials - 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 June 3, 2019 to August 2, 2019 (60 days). Please see the planning process for Stages 1 and Stage 2 on the old Environmental Registry by searching Registry number 013-1551 at https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca

Proposal details

The forest management plan for the Gordon Cosens 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 Gordon Cosens Forest is located in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Northeast Region. It is predominately located within MNRF Hearst District and also overlaps with the boundaries of Chapleau and Timmins Districts. Hearst District (specifically the Kapuskasing Field Office) has stewardship responsibilities over this forest and has taken a lead role for other districts.

The communities of Kapuskasing, Moonbeam, Opasatika, Mattice, Fauquier, Val Rita – Harty, and Smooth Rock Falls are located within or adjacent to the Gordon Cosens Forest. No First Nation Communities or Metis Nations are located within the boundaries of the Gordon Cosens Forest; however there are nine First Nation communities and four Metis Nations whose interests or traditional uses may be affected by forest management activities: Moose Cree First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Missanabie Cree First Nation, Taykwa Tagamou Nation, Matachewan First Nation, Flying Post First Nation, Brunswick House First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, Mattagami First Nation, Métis Nation of Ontario Northern Lights Métis Council (Cochrane), Métis Nation of Ontario Timmins Métis Council (Timmins), Métis Nation of Ontario Temiskaming Métis Council (Haileybury), Métis Nation of Ontario Chapleau Métis Council (Chapleau).

The Gordon Cosens Forest is located in the boreal forest. The Forest encompasses a total area of 2,005,305 hectares of which 1,917,444 hectares is classified as forested land and 87,861 hectares as non-forested (e.g. water, grass and meadow, unclassified and agricultural land). Of the total forested area, 1,732,722 hectares is productive forest and 184,722 hectares is non-productive forest (e.g. treed muskeg, open muskeg, brush, alder and rock). The Crown-managed (not park) productive forest is 1,511,844 hectares. The main tree species are black and white spruce, jack pine, balsam fir, poplar, and white birch, with lesser amounts of larch and cedar.

Missinaibi Provincial Park and René Brunelle Provincial Park are the only operating parks in the Gordon Cosens Forest.The other parks and conservation reserves are non-operating and include the following: Chapleau-Nemegosenda River Provincial Park, Nova Township Clay Plain Peatlands Conservation Reserve, Vimy Lake Uplands Conservation Reserve, Northern Claybelt Forest Complex Conservation Reserve, Hicks-Oke Bog Provincial Nature Reserve, Shanly Creek Drumlins Conservation Reserve, Groundhog River Provincial Park, Bennet Lake Esker Kame Complex Conservation Reserve, Ballantyne Lake Drumlins Conservation Reserve, and Mattagami River Beach and Aeolian Deposit Provincial Park.

The current boundary of the Gordon Cosens Forest reflects the amalgamation of the southern portion of the Kapuskasing Management Unit with the Gordon Cosens Forest, which occurred on April 1, 2000. The original boundary of the Gordon Cosens Forest was established in 1980 with the signing of the Forest Management Agreement on September 19, 1980. For forest management purposes, MNRF has issued a sustainable forest licence to Rayonier Advanced Materials licence #550039 on May 9, 2001 and amended March 23, 2011. Under the licence, the corporation is responsible for, among other things, the preparation of the forest management plan in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario’s Crown Forests (2017).

Rayonier Advanced Materials holds the Sustainable Forest Licence for the forest. Timber from the forest is primarily directed to the Rayonier Advanced Materials complex in Kapuskasing, sawmill and veneer mill in Hearst (RYAM Lumber) and sawmill in Calstock (Lecours Lumber Company Limited). In addition to Rayonier Advanced Materials, timber is also directed to the overlapping licensees or groups listed below:

• Columbia Forest Products – Levesque Division
• Lecours Lumber Company Limited
• RYAM Lumber – Chapleau and Cochrane
• Synco Timber Limited
• Rockshield Engineered Wood Products
• Lachance Saw and Planner
• White Cedar Products Incorporated

The Gordon Cosens Forest is also a source of supply to independent contractors and individuals that rely on incidental species such as tamarack (larch), cedar and white birch for specialty lumber and fuelwood.

In addition to fibre for commercial use, the forest supports wildlife and ecosystem functions such as carbon sinks and water conservation. Commercial and non-commercial recreation opportunities are also associated with the forest such as tourist operators, campers, bait fish harvesters, trappers, hunters and anglers.

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 of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Hearst District, Kapuskasing Field 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, Joshua Breau, Management Forester, Kapuskasing office at 705-337-9314.

An alternate to the government contact for this notice is:

Kevin Del Guidice R.P.F.
Plan Author
Forest Operations Northern Ontario West
RYAM Forest Management
1 Government Road
Kapuskasing, Ontario
kevin.delguidice@RayonierAM.com

Consultation Opportunities

In accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual, formal public 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: October 10, 2017.

Stage Two - Review of Proposed Long Term Management Direction: February 13, 2019.

Stage Three – Information Centre; Review of Proposed Operations: June 3, 2019.

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

Stage Four - Information Centre - Review of Draft Forest Management Plan: November, 2019.

Stage Five - Public inspection of a Ministry approved Forest Management Plan: February, 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 community 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 February 2020 through March 2020, you may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 1^st Floor, 135 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 for an individual environmental assessment of specific planned operations in the MNRF - approved forest management plan, in accordance with the process described in Part A. Section 2.4.2 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).