Comments are being accepted until Feb. 28, 2017, on proposed amendments to the 2006 Land Use Objectives Order in the Kiteen (26,000 hectares) and Skeena Islands (4,500 hectares) portions of the Kalum Sustainable Resource Management Plan (SRMP) area in northwestern B.C.

The proposed amendments will address resource values, including First Nations cultural heritage resources, landscape biodiversity, wildlife habitat as well as rare ecosystems in the Kalum SRMP area.

Public feedback on the proposed amendments will be considered prior to their implementation. Once amended, the land use objectives in the order must be adhered to by all major forest licence holders operating in the area.

A new Environmental Protection and Management Regulation Order, under the Oil and Gas Activities Act, that will establish legal requirements for oil and gas development respecting Old Growth Management Areas across the entire Kalum SRMP area is also being proposed.

The Kalum SRMP area is 1,642,270 hectares in size and includes the city of Terrace, the municipality of Kitimat and a number of smaller rural and First Nations communities.

Written comments can be sent to: Laura Bolster, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Bag 5000, 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, B.C., V0J 2N0, or by fax to 250 847-7728, or email: Laura.Bolster@gov.bc.ca until Feb. 28, 2017.

A copy of the proposed amendments and related information can be viewed online at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/tasb/SLRP/KalumSRMP.html or obtained from the address above.