Millar Western seeking community members to participate in its new Public Advisory Committee.
Millar Western is seeking interested, enthusiastic community members residing in and around its operating area to sit on a new consultation group, the Public Advisory Committee (PAC). The group will review operating plans, monitor the company’s environmental performance, including compliance with the National Standard on Sustainable Forest Management (CSA-Z809), and bring community issues and concerns to Millar Western’s attention.
As well as recruiting members from the public at large, Millar Western is inviting a number of stakeholders, including aboriginal communities, recreational groups, contractors and other industrial forest users, to participate in PAC. The intention is to build a broad-based public consultation committee that brings many different perspectives to the table.
PAC members will be expected to attend about six meetings a year, most of which will be held in Whitecourt. While a background in forestry is not required, prospective participants should have an interest in and be eager to learn more about the forest products industry and the regulatory and certification standards to which Millar Western must comply. While PAC members will serve in a volunteer capacity, Millar Western will reimburse members for related expenses.
PAC replaces two previous public consultation committees: the Millar Western Public Participation Group (PPG), which was created in 2004 to oversee the development of the company’s 2007-2016 Detailed Forest Management Plan, and the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), which, since 2001, has served as a forum for discussing environmental issues related to the operation of Millar Western’s Whitecourt pulp and lumber operations.
Those interested in joining PAC can fax a resume and/or short explanation of why they want to join to (780) 486-8282, or e-mail the information to mwfp@millarwestern.com, inserting “PAC Application” in the subject line. Deadlines for submissions are May 4, 2007.
Map of Millar Western Forest Management Agreement (FMA) area.