2017 SFI Public Summary Report. Tamarack Mill, LLC dba Evergreen Forest Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing Standard [ ]

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1 2017 SFI Public Summary Report Tamarack Mill, LLC dba Evergreen Forest Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Fiber Sourcing Standard [ ] Date: January 29, 2018 Project Scope and Objectives PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) completed a Re-Registration Assessment on Tamarack Mill, LLC dba Evergreen Forest s (the Company) Wood Fiber Procurement systems and practices in North America for the sawmill in New Meadows, Idaho. The Lead Assessor was James Lucas, EMS (LA) and the on-site team lead was Sean Pledger, EMS (A). The audit team was accompanied by Tamarack s SFI Representative, Jim Wassmuth. The primary objective was to assess the Company s SFI management system and to evaluate the Company s implementation of the SFI Standard in the field. There have been no changes to the scope of the certification since the last public summary. Indicators All of the indicators in the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard were within the scope of the assessment, except for Objective 8, since Tamarack does not manage any public land, and Objectives 11-13, since none of the fiber sourced by Tamarack comes from outside the United States and Canada. Additionally, Appendix 1 was not included in the scope of the assessment since Tamarack does not use the SFI Certified Sourcing Label. There were no substitute indicators. Assessment Process On October 26, 2017, the assessment team conducted interviews and reviewed appropriate documentation to assess policies and procedures, and tested the implementation of SFI program requirements at the Central Office in New Meadows, Idaho, and field assessments in the surrounding area. The PwC team conducted field assessments at two stumpage harvesting operations and one gatewood sale harvesting operation. These were chosen from two strata, stumpage sales (IDF and Federal), and gatewood purchases. PwC focuses on the stumpage sales, as the majority of purchased fiber is from that strata, and will focus on active operations. In total, the audit team spent half a day in the office and half a day in the field. The audit report is dated January 29, (1)

2 Summary of Conformance, Findings, and Good Management Practices FIBER SOURCING Objective Performance Measure Evidence of Conformity Objective 1: Biodiversity in Fiber Sourcing Performance Measure 1.1. Promotion and conservation of biological diversity. forms. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack has a well-developed SFI fiber sourcing system underpinned by the requirements of the Idaho Forest Practice rules. Tamarack purchases stumpage from State or Federal lands which are under timber sale contracts, or from properties (State owned, industrial or private landowners) that have a State-recognized slash compliance permit. Such timber sale contracts include provisions to conserve biodiversity through, at a minimum, the protection of listed plant and animal species. Objective 2: Adherence to Best Management Practices Objective 3: Use of Qualified Resource and Qualified Logging Performance Measure 2.1. clearly define and implement policies to ensure that forms. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and facility inventories and fiber gatewood timber sales. sourcing activities do not compromise adherence to All sources from which Tamarack procures fiber are required to the principles of sustainable meet the Idaho Forest Practices rules and Federal regulations if forestry. applicable. Timber sale contracts for stumpage sales require compliance with BMPs and contracts include requirements for legal compliance. Performance Measure 2.2. Evidence: Review of log purchase agreements and completed monitoring inspection forms monitor the use of best management practices. In addition to the Idaho Department of Forestry s monitoring of timber sales, Tamarack conducts their own documented weekly inspections of all stumpage. Other gatewood purchases throughout the year are also inspected and documented in inspection forms. Performance Measure 3.1. encourage landowners to forms, Pro-Logger website. Field visits to active and completed (2)

3 Professionals Objective 4: Legal and Regulatory Compliance utilize the services of qualified logging professionals, certified logging professionals (where available), qualified resource professionals and to apply principles of sustainable forest management to their lands. stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack sends out its SFI Policy to landowners with gatewood contracts. The policy confirms their commitment to sustainable forestry and promoting the use of Qualified Logging Professionals. Tamarack has landowner packages available at their office which provide information on sustainable forestry and wildlife, water quality issues and the SFI program. In their gatewood log purchase agreements Tamarack encourages all gatewood log suppliers to use qualified loggers and only hires contractors who are certified in the Idaho Pro-Logger Program (part of the Associated Logging Contractors). The company also keeps a list of qualified logging professionals who have taken the LEAP program (logger training) and annually reviews this list for accuracy. Performance Measure 4.1. comply with applicable federal, provincial, state and local forestry and related social and environmental laws and regulations and take steps to avoid illegal logging. forms. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack has online access to Idaho and National forestry legislation including websites of the Idaho Department of Lands and the US Forest Service. Copies of relevant regulations can be reviewed on these websites. Additionally, hard copies of the Idaho Forest Practices Act are also available from the IDL Area Office in McCall, ID. Tamarack is also subject to a number of to forestry and environmental laws and regulations as specified in their timber sale contracts with IDL & USFS/BLM. Tamarack s Forestry Manager is knowledgeable about the ID Forest Practices Act and attends annual refresher training in the Spring or at other workshops. Performance Measure 4.2. take appropriate steps to comply with all applicable social laws at the federal, provincial, state and local levels in the country in which they Program Participant operates. forms. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack sources logs from three main sources: (1) gatewood sources where all sales are generally administered by a forest professional, monitored by the IDF and all harvest operations receive at least one inspection. (2) State stumpage sales which all have a forester in charge who is responsible for compliance & sale administration and (3) Federal sales (USFS & BLM) which have sales administrators and other staff which are responsible for compliance issues. For the IDL and USFS timber sales, contract requirements are dictated by contract documents which specify requirements for harvesting and hauling operations. The contracts reference applicable Federal and State laws and regulations. Tamarack posts a performance bond for each timber sale to address any potential non-compliance issues. The bond must be in place until all obligations have been confirmed to be met and the sale is 3

4 Objective 5. Forestry Research, Science and Technology closed. On IDL and USFS timber sales, Tamarack is subject to road construction and timber sale inspections. Additionally, the Tamarack Forest Manager visits the timber sales and inspects the harvesting and hauling during operations and again upon completion of operations. Performance Measure 5.1. individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving SFI Implementation Committees, associations or other partners provide inkind support or funding for forest research to improve forest health, productivity, and sustainable management of forest resources, and the environmental benefits and performance of forest products. forms, Effects of Plague on Ground Squirrels presentation, record of financial contributions, SFI Annual Report, Payette Forest Coalition membership list. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack contributes annually to the Idaho Forest Products Commission (IFPC). The IFPC website is a landowner resource for land stewardship related issues. The site provides information on forest management including responsible harvesting, forest health and the importance of the forest products industry in Idaho. In addition, Tamarack continues to support a University of Idaho research study on endangered North ID Ground Squirrels on Evergreen s lands at mill. Tamarack has provided permission to conduct research on their lands. Additionally, Tamarack s Forest Manager is engaged through USFS stakeholder processes relating to Stewardship sales that it has bid on and is running, such as the Payette Forest Coalition. These sales are the result of USFS research and pilot project funding for unique approaches, which include thinning projects to improve forest health and improve fire resistance. Performance Measure 5.2. individually and/or through gatewood purchase and planning files, record of payments to cooperative efforts involving SFI, SFI Annual Report. Field visits to active and completed SFI Implementation stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Committees, associations or other partners develop or Tamarack has been a member of the Idaho SIC for the past few use state, provincial or years and supports the SIC s efforts to improve sustainable regional analyses in support forestry in Idaho. of their sustainable forestry programs. Performance Measure 5.3. individually and/or through cooperative efforts involving forms, SFI Annual Report, Payette Forest Coalition membership SFI Implementation list. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood Committees, associations or timber sales. other partners broaden the awareness of climate change Tamarack periodically (minimum once annually) reviews impacts of forests, wildlife information/reports developed by international, national, regional and biological diversity. or local programs with regard to climate change research. 4

5 Objective 6. Training and Education The company keeps abreast of various research efforts focused on climate change including the Idaho State Forest Strategy which is part of a national Statewide forest strategy program and has documented a Forest Action Plan which includes strategies for dealing with the negative and positive implications of climate change on forest health and productivity for the West Central Region which includes McCall and the Tamarack area. Performance Measure 6.1. require appropriate training of personnel and contractors so that they are competent to fulfill their responsibilities under the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. forms, SFI Policy, Pro-Logger website. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack s SFI policy commits the company to meeting the SFI Standard for Fiber Sourcing through a variety of means including: working with trained and qualified contractors, encouraging landowner stewardship and reforestation on their lands, and meeting all State and Federal requirements for labor and forest management. The policy is made available to staff, customers, contractors and the general public. Tamarack personnel undertake regular training relevant to their roles and responsibilities under the Standard. Contractors receive regular training through State logger certification programs and Tamarack tracks loggers certification status through the Idaho Pro-logger site. Performance Measure 6.2. work individually and/or with SFI Implementation forms, Payette Forest Coalition membership list, SFI Policy, Committees, logging or Pro-Logger website, SIC meeting minutes, payment receipts to forestry associations, or SFI. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood appropriate agencies or timber sales. others in the forestry community to foster The ID SIC has worked on improving the Pro-logger program in improvement in the the State, and the training the program given to its members professionalism of wood meets many of these goals. Tamarack has been a member of the producers. Idaho SIC since 2014 and supports these efforts. Tamarack encourages all contractors to attend Pro-logger training and only hires certified loggers to work on its timber sales operations. The company monitors trained loggers through the lists put out by the Idaho Pro-Logger organization. All loggers it currently uses are trained through the Pro-logger program. In addition to logger BMP training, the Pro-Logger organization requires that all loggers have a current first aid card. Objective 7. Community Involvement and Landowner Performance Measure 7.1. support and promote efforts by consulting foresters, state, forms, Payette Forest Coalition membership list, SFI Policy, 5

6 Outreach provincial and federal agencies, state or local groups, professional societies, conservation organizations, Indigenous Peoples and governments, community groups, sporting organizations, labour, universities, extension agencies, the American Tree Farm System and/or other landowner cooperative programs to apply principles of sustainable forest management. Pro-Logger website, SIC meeting minutes, payment receipts to SFI. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Tamarack is a member of the Idaho SIC and continues to pay its annual dues. The company s Forest Manager attends SIC meetings when he is able, and reviews meeting minutes to keep informed of relevant issues when he cannot attend the meetings. Tamarack does not own lands but does support conservation of managed forests through voluntary market-based incentive programs. The company s Forest Manger participates on a monthly basis in the Payette Forest Coalition process and is aware of the State Forest Assessment and management strategy. Tamarack purchases logs from SFI and ATFS sources when available. Performance Measure 7.2. support and promote, at the state, provincial or other appropriate levels, mechanisms for public outreach, education and involvement related to sustainable forest management. forms, Payette Forest Coalition membership list. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. Upon request from forest landowners, Tamarack will supply regionally appropriate information describing the importance of, and providing implementation guidance on, BMP s, reforestation, visual quality management and conservation of critical wildlife habitat elements, threatened and endangered species, Forests of Exceptional Conservation Value, management of harvest residue and other utilization needs, control of invasive exotic plants and animals, characteristics of special sites and reduction of wildfire risk. Packages of these materials are available at the front desk at the mill or can be delivered to landowners by request. The Payette Forest Coalition has conducted a variety of tours for its members on USFS lands including various timber sales that Tamarack has purchased and completed the harvesting. Tamarack also conducts public tours at its mill site and funds the efforts of the IFPC. Performance Measure 7.3. establish, at the state, provincial, or other appropriate levels, procedures to address concerns raised by loggers, consulting foresters, employees, unions, the public or other Program Participants regarding practices that appear inconsistent with the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard principles and forms, Payette Forest Coalition membership list, SFI Policy, Pro-Logger website, ID SIC website. Field visits to active and completed stumpage and gatewood timber sales. The ID SFI SIC has an inconsistent practices hotline and reporting process. Any reports go directly to the SIC and there is a process to investigate and respond. 6

7 Objective 8. Public Land Management Responsibilities Objective 9. Communications and Public Reporting Objective 10. Management Review and Continual Improvement Objective 11. Promote Conservation of Biological Diversity, Biodiversity Hotspots and High- Biodiversity Wilderness Areas objectives. Performance Measure 8.1. Not applicable. Tamarack does not manage public lands. Program Participants with forest management responsibilities on public lands shall participate in the development of public land planning and management processes. Performance Measure 9.1. A Program Participant shall provide a summary audit report, prepared by the certification body, to SFI Inc. after the successful completion of a certification, recertification or surveillance audit to the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. SFI Fiber Sourcing Program, Audit Report, SFI Public Summary Report. PwC prepared the 2017 annual SFI audit report, dated January 29, Performance Measure 9.2. SFI Fiber Sourcing Program, Audit Report, SFI Public report annually to SFI Inc. Summary Report, 2017 records of correspondence with SFI. on their conformance with the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard. Tamarack has systems for tracking and reporting all information required for the annual report. Tamarack submits their report to SFI annually. Performance Measure SFI Fiber Sourcing Program, Annual Management establish a management Review minutes. review system to examine findings and progress in Tamarack conducts an annual Management Review with all implementing the SFI upper management to review annual goals for the SFI program 2019 Fiber Sourcing and an assessment of the achievement of these goals and Standard, to make objectives. appropriate improvements in programs, and to inform their employees of changes. Performance Measure ensure that their fiber sourcing programs support the principles of sustainable forestry, including efforts to promote conservation of biological diversity. Not applicable as Tamarack does not source fiber from outside of the United States and Canada. 7

8 Objective 12. Avoidance of Controversial Sources including Illegal Logging Objective 13. Avoidance of Controversial Sources including Fiber Sourced from Areas without Effective Social Laws Performance Measure Not applicable as Tamarack does not source fiber from outside of the United States and Canada. ensure that their fiber sourcing programs support the principles of sustainable forestry, including efforts to reduce the risk of illegal logging. Performance Measure avoid controversial sources and encourage socially sound practices. Not applicable as Tamarack does not source fiber from outside of the United States and Canada. Specific Good management practices are noted below: Tamarack Mill adjusts their oversight of logging practices so that the supervision is appropriate to the scale and complexity of the operations. Tamarack s Resource Manager assesses risks associated with each timber sale/stumpage purchase and inspects the site accordingly. Conclusion The Company has maintained conformance with the requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Fiber Sourcing Standard [ ]. The Certificate can be can be obtained by contacting Mr. Jim Wassmuth of Tamarack at (208)