Esrd letter
Sorry but I had to hand type this. Been trying for a couple hrs to figure out how to change the format to put it up but here is the main bit. Please excuse the spelling as I am trying to type this out fast.
Jan 30 2015
ESRD Red Deer - Northern Saskatchewan Region - Trapper update
Over the past couple year there have been changes to the Legislation directly related to registered Fur Management ares (RFMA) Alberta Envirement and Sustainable Resource Developement (ESRD) is currently working on policies to clarify associated trapping uses such as cabins and trap line maintenance.
The admin of a RFMA is issued under the Wildlife Act and Wildlife Regulation and provides the holder of this license authorization to trap and hunt fur bearing animals for that particular area.
An RFMA license does not provide authority for the holder to construct a cabin and remove forest growth along a trapline. Authority to construct or occupie a cabin is granted under the Public Lands Act and Public Lands Administration Regulation (PLAR)
Prior to development of the PLAR (SEpt 2011), authority to construct a cabin was still required although RFMA holders did not require a formal disposition ( miscellaneous Permit-MLP or Miscellaneous Lease-DML ) if:
A) the cabin is located within the RFMA to which the registered fur managment relates
B) the holder occupies the cabin fewer than 180 days a calender year and
C) the holder occupies the cabin only while engaged in hunting pursuant to the registered fur management license
ESRD is in the process of establishing a disturbance for standard cabins under PLAR which may require a Miscellaneous Lease (DML) disposition in the future. In the meantime, officers in the Red Deer- North Saskatchewan Region will issue RFMA holders a Temporary Fiels Authorization (TFA) for the construction of new Cabins, or any changes or upgrades to existing cabins, as follows
A) Structures are to be located at approved locations within the RFMA that minimize the potential for land use conflicts with other users and the potential impacts to sensitive public land and resources. Prior to construction or clearing, trappers must discuss their proposed location with local ESRD staff
B) Trappers are responsible for completing municipal requirements for approvals, permits, development or health requirements, and taxes or fees that may apply to the strutures.
C) a maximum of 3 cabinsare permitted on the RFMA , comprised of one main cabin and 2 line cabins
D) Line cabins must be located more than 16 Kilometrees away from other cabins on the same RFMA, not including those cabins on Adjacent RFMA. This min distance accounts for 1 day of travel between cabins to ensure safety. ESRD will consider variances to the number of cabins permitted in order to enable effective management of the line. Line cabins must still be located greater than 16KM away from other cabins on the same RFMA as per point D
F) Other structures (latrines wood sheds work sheds) are approved subject to a site development plan for each line or main cabin.
G) All structures must be single story, temporary, constructed on non permanent foundations, and of a manner allowing easy movement. The installation of permanent seviceing is not permitted. (EG. permanent Power lines supplied by commercial power operator, natural gas, water wells. etc.)
H) Wildfires may pose risk to trappers structures. Following the guidelines provided in the Firesmart manual may help protect trappers structures from wildfire. Trappers are encouraged to gain more info from ESRD website
I) The timber company , forest Management Agreement (FMA) holder, and in the case of grazing lease, (GRL) holders will need to provide consent for the overlapping of the cabin. The disposition holders will discuss opportunitys to integrate and coordinate use of the land, structures , access, and timing of activities
Cabin sizes Main Cabin 1 per RMFA Max area permitted under MLL is .405 ha or 1 acr size of structure 576 FT
Line cabin 2 per RFMA .2 ha or .5 Acr is the max area under MLL and 256 FT
Work shed or other 144 FT persuant under the development plan
Wood shed or latrine peruant under development plan
Authorization will be provided to the RFMA holder Senior partner along with all other correspondence. Cabins are to be used for trapping purposse only , by the RFMA holder , junior partner and their spouses and dependant children. Unless otherwise authorized by the department, trappers cabins are not to be used for recreational or other purposes. In the event an RFMA is cancelled or re assigned to another client by ESRD, structures and improvements are to be removed or may be with permission transfered to the new RFMA holder.
Other trapline activities that require approval from ESRD officer are not limited to but include
A) installation of watercourse crossings such as culvert bridge etc
B) cutting of forest growth for cabin construction/ maintanence
C) new trail construction or mainanence of existing trails where other cutting of deadfall is required
D) use of motorized vehicle including OHV's and snowmachine designated trails in a public land use zone (PLUZ)
E) Use during area closures
Trappers are to be notified at least ten days prior to the initiation of comercial activities such as forestry and oil gas mining etc. Inn 2013 the alberta Energy Regulator (AER) became a new organization and began taking on regulatory functions related to energy development previously held by ESRD. Although ESRD no longer performs energy approvals we will still act on behalf of the RMFA holder should there be discrepancies relating to notifications. Most forestry companies generally provide notification during development of their annual operating plan well in advance of the min ten day requirement.
As a commercial user RFMA holders may require agreements for the use of roads or other activities under disposition by another user. Please work with these holders to ensure safety concerns and other legal liabilities are addressed.
ESRD appovals Officer (Lands and Forestry Officer) may be contacting trappers and visiting cabin sites as part of their regular inspections within their working area. In addition we will be updating our data base with cabin locations and RMFA contacts to ensure we can plan accordingly in the event of a wildfire or other Emergency
Any concerns call Don livingston 403-845-8236 Or Stephen Shenfield 403-845-8301
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