A 2011 compliance audit of the . mill showed a high standard of forest operations, according to a Forest Practices Board audit report that was released last week.

The audit, which took place from Sept. 12 to 15, 2011, assessed over 80 cut blocks and close to 300 kilometres of road and found that Babine Forest Products met or exceeded legislated requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act, the Wildfire Act, the Lakes District Land and Resource Management Plan and the Lakes North Sustainable Resource Management Plan.

"Our audit team found that, during the course of beetle salvage logging, Babine Forest Products  Ltd. effectively implemented its wildlife tree retention strategies, carefully managed its silviculture program and made sure roads, bridges and drainage structures were all well maintained," said Forest Practices Board chair, Al Gorley.

Babine Forest Products Ltd. is a joint venture between Oregon based Hampton Affiliates and . It was certified in July 2011, by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

This is the first time this forest license has been audited by the board, however Babine Forest Products Ltd. woods manager Richard Vossen said the mill has had other audits in the past, under Canadian Standards Association, voluntary certification.

Vossen said the company is pleased with the results of the audit and he credits the professional woods team working at the mill.

"They are dedicated and take ownership. We are also supported by Hampton Affiliates, who has large, private land holdings in the U.S.," Vossen said that some of Hampton's Oregon based forests are now on their second rotation. "Hampton owns approximately 100,000 acres of private forest land in the U.S. and much of these lands now have a second crop of trees growing on them. Long term forest management is important."

Vossen also credited the mill's contractors. "We have a well trained and dedicated group of contractors who meet the legislated requirements and meet forestry standards. If the contractors have an issue they are quick to contact us for solutions."

He said the partnership with local First Nations is also important. "First Nations have a long term interest and ownership of the land base and we meet their archeological values on the land base."

According to Vossen, Babine Forest Products Ltd. is going full steam ahead. It's in full production and is currently actively logging. "The year ahead looks good. The lumber market is down, but we are hoping to see an improvement in U.S. lumber markets this year. There has also been a slow down in China, but we think that will pick up again in the spring."

Vossen said that Hampton Affiliates is the largest employer in the local area with approximately 300 people working at both Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake Forest Products. There is also more than 170 contract employees working indirectly for the company.鈥�