ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT TO THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. for the FRENCH/SEVERN FOREST (360)

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1 ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENT TO THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN for the FRENCH/SEVERN FOREST (360) Parry Sound District, Southern Region Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc. for the 10-year period from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2019 Amendment #: 017 I/We hereby confirm that this Administrative Amendment has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Planning Manual, and the Forest Information Manual, and is consistent with the approved forest management plan. Prepared by: Joe Johnson August 18, 2010 (Date) I hereby certify that this Administrative Amendment has been developed in accordance with the requirements of Forest Management Planning Manual and the Forest Information Manual. (R.P.F. Seal) (Plan Author) (Date) I approve this Administrative Amendment for implementation and certify that it has been prepared in accordance with the Forest Management Planning Manual, the Forest Information Manual and relevant policies and obligations,(including any relevant MNR agreements with Aboriginal peoples). I also certify that the Administrative Amendment has been prepared using the applicable forest management guides. In this Administrative Amendment, prescriptions that differ from specific direction or recommendations in the applicable forest management guides are identified in the attached List of Exceptions. Certified and Approved by: (MNR District Manager or Area Supervisor) (Date) Forest Information Portal Submission Identifier:

2 Amendment Number: ADM French/Severn Crown M.U. (360) FMP Area Forester Recommendation: I recommend this amendment proceed as per attached Signature Joe Johnson Area Manager Date Received Recommend Non-Approval Recommend Approval * R - Requirements C Comments Forests Joe Johnson LCC Gord Michener/ Jim Kaufman Sr. Tech Al Theiss Supervisor Trevor Griffin. *Note: Requirements stated above become conditions of approval of this amendment. Comments are for information purposes only and may be considered by the Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc. and/or the Overlapping Licensee during implementation of operations. District Manager's Review: Type of Amendment: Reject: Resubmit: Proceed: Admin: Minor: Major: AMENDMENT PROPOSAL General Planning Information Amendment Number ADM Administrative District: Parry Sound Area Office Location: Parry Sound / Bracebridge Crown Management Unit: French/Severn Forest F.M.P. affected: A.W.S. affected: 10/11

3 General Proposal Information Proponent's Name and Affiliation: Almaguin Forest Products, Tom Fisher Logging, And Westwind Prepared by: Joe Johnson Submitted by: Barry Davidson Reason for Amendment: Upgrade category of 2 existing unnamed roads from operational to branch and a portion of an existing road from branch to primary Proposed Sites: Pickerel Lake, Bee Lake and Widgeon Lake roads Area (ha) N/A Townships: Blair, Butt and Proudfoot Submission Date for MNR internal review: August 19, 2010 Amendment is Proposed to Take Effect: September 3, 2010 Forest Management Contact Person: Joe Johnson Upon approval, please forward approved amendment with MNR comments to: barrydavidson@westwindforest.ca Detailed Proposal Information Description of Amendment Proposal: The Pickerel Lake Road (previously unnamed operational road) intersects with the Pickerel River primary access road approx 8 km north of hwy 522 The road runs approx. 6 km east then south to Camp 7 road. The road was originally built and funded by MNR through various road building programs. It has been used by various logging companies in the past for access to crown timber. The road was incorrectly classified when the road strategy was developed for the pickerel river road network. This amendment will update the classification of the existing Pickerel Lake road from operational to branch. Any small extensions or other roads off this existing road will be considered operational.

4 There is a water crossing replacement associated with this road. It was approved in previous AWS and is being shown for location purposes only. The Bee Lake Road (previously unnamed operational road) intersects with the Tim Lake Primary access road just south of the public access to Algonquin Park The road runs approx. 6 km east towards the Algonquin Park boundary. It has been used by various logging companies in the past for access to crown timber. The road was incorrectly classified when the road strategy was developed for the Tim Lake road network. This amendment will update the classification of the existing Bee Lake road from operational to branch. Any small extensions or other roads off this existing road will be considered operational. The Widgeon Lake Road existing branch road intersects with the Kents Mill Primary access right at the intersection of municipal and primary road. Only 2 km have been upgraded to primary. It has been used by various logging companies in the past for access to crown timber. This section of road was incorrectly classified when the road strategy was developed for the Widgeon Lake road network. This amendment will update the classification of 2 km of the existing Widgeon Lake road from branch to primary. Any small extensions or other roads off this existing road will be considered operational. 2. Rationale for Proposed Amendment The usage of these roads is long-term in nature and more consistent with the definition of branch and primary roads particularly given the permancy of water crossings and level of public travel on them. Upgrading the classification of these roads will allow government allotted roads monies to be utilized for the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of these roads to allow for more cost effective operations that will result in a lowered cost of wood to the mill. Under current funding commitments from the Ontario government for 2010/11100% of eligible road costs for primary roads and 50% for branch roads will be paid from these funds (up to a maximum allotted to each forest management unit in the province). 3. Impact(s) of Amendment and Significance if Rejected/if Approved: All these roads are existing and there will be no impact whatsoever in terms of planning or public concerns. They do not require any more planning than normal identification in annual work schedules for repair and maintenance. This would still be the case for these roads when reclassified. The only impact would be to allow access to provincial roads funding to lower the cost of delivered wood as intended by the provincial roads funding initiative.

5 4. Supplementary Documentation: See attached maps showing the location of the roads proposed to be reclassified. FMP-22 has been completed for these roads..