Procedure for Allegations of Inconsistent Practices
The South Carolina Sustainable Forestry Implementation Committee (SIC) of the SCFA will respond to any allegations of practices inconsistent with Sustainable Forestry Initiative guidelines. This program is initiated as part of the SFI Standard Objective 12, Performance Measure 12.5, requiring Program Participants to “establish…procedures to address concerns…regarding practices that appear inconsistent with the SFI Standard principles and objectives.”
The Committee will promote the use of a toll telephone number for reporting practices that may be inconsistent with SFI guidelines. The number may be advertised in the Carolina Forestry Journal and similar publications, and distributed to landowners, loggers, and others via brochures, flyers, and personal contact.
All complaints will be handled with complete confidentiality. No information about the complainant will be released, nor will records of the complainant’s identity be kept. In addition, the specific target of the complaint will remain anonymous to other SFI member companies.
The following procedure will be used for handling any allegations of inconsistent practices:
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SCFA SIC coordinator receives call or notification from complainant or from SC Forestry Commission BMP program staff.
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SCFA coordinator notifies SIC chairman that an allegation has been received.
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If the complaint is related to water quality, it will be referred to SC Forestry Commission staff for resolution.
a. SCFC will determine whether a water quality problem exists, and work with responsible party to take corrective action as needed.
b. If corrective action is not satisfactory, responsible party will be reported to SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, US Army Corps of Engineers, or other regulatory agency as appropriate.
c. SCFC will notify SIC chairman of determination and action taken.
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If complaint is determined to be a valid SFI concern involving a Program Participant, the SCFA coordinator will contact appropriate company representative(s) for resolution.
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If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, or resolution is limited by legal constraints, the issue will be referred to the SFI National Inconsistent Practices office via the External Review Panel Secretariat for further action.
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SCFA SIC coordinator will respond to complainant regarding validity of the complaint and action taken within 45 days of receipt of complaint. If the complaint is serious in nature
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SCFA staff will maintain an anonymous record of complaints received and resolution.
Click here to see a flow chart diagramming this process.