The Teal-Jones Group

FRASER VALLEY OPERATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR CSA SFM CERTIFICATION

We are very please to announce that external registrars Quality Management Institute (QMI) have recommended The Teal-Jones Group, Fraser Valley Operation for registration to the CSA Sustainable Forest Management CSA Z809-02 standard. Official registration will occur in the next month.

The Fraser Valley Operation marks yet another location we can add to our already established list of Harvesting and Operating Mill Facilities that is CSA Certified.

In keeping with the continual improvement commitments, we will strive to enhance crew and contractor awareness levels regarding sustainable forest management, SOPs and Emergency Response.

The Teal-Jones Group is firmly committed to the sustainability of our Forests, our Environment, our Employees, and the Economy of British Columbians.

The proposed Strategic Land Use Agreement (SLUA) for Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) will have devastating impacts on the coastal forest industry and the communities that depend on the forest industry operating on Haida Gwaii. This determination by Teal Jones was conducted by external and internal forestry specialists.

Teal Jones, similar to other forest licencees operating on Haida Gwaii, strongly supports a viable land use plan for Haida Gwaii, that recognizes the special rights of the Haida First Nation and protects other stakeholders including local communities and employees (on Haida Gwaii and other coastal milling communities).

The SLUA, signed between the Province of British Columbia and Haida First Nation on May 28, 2007, conceptually recognizes the requirements of First Nations and the environment. However, when technical analysis and forestry science is applied to evaluate the impacts of the detail within the SLUA, the adverse impacts are far-reaching. The allowable annual cut for Haida Gwaii is expected to drop from 1.3 million cubic meters to under 500 thousand cubic meters; in effect rendering the harvesting activities on the islands uneconomic. This in turn will result in elimination of the economic engine (the forest industry) for the major towns on Haida Gwaii.

For Teal Jones, the smallest of the three major forest licencees on Haida Gwaii, the harvest land base of its licences will be reduced by 49%. Additional harvesting restrictions on the remaining land base will severely handicap its economic viability. The current allowable annual cut of 116 thousand cubic meters will be reduced to approximately 43 thousand cubic meters; in effect, eliminating the majority of economic activity at Sandspit. Teal Jones invites interested parties and stakeholders to review the results of its analysis by contacting the Sandspit Logging Operation.

It is unfortunate that the process of land use planning, at a government to government level between the Province and the Haida First Nation did not solicit the input of the forest industry in developing the SLUA. The industry, given its requirements for ongoing harvest planning, possesses the best technical and forest inventory information that is necessary to evaluate the actual impacts on harvesting and on the economy. Teal Jones and other industry operators believe that using this information can not only achieve the goals of the SLUA for the Haida First Nation and environmental needs, but can also meet the economic and commercial needs of communities, employees and businesses that depend on the forests of Haida Gwaii. The current SLUA, however, does not achieve this.

Teal Jones is assisting the Province with its current analysis, and remains committed to achieving a land use solution for Haida Gwaii that meets the needs of the First Nation and other stakeholders.

Teal Jones is coastal British Columbia's largest private solid wood products company and employees 1,000 people in 15 communities covering Vancouver & vicinity, Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, Fraser Valley and the B.C. Interior. On Haida Gwaii, Teal Jones operates, a shingle mill at Masset with associated block harvesting operations, and a logging operation at Sandspit covering tenures on Moresby, Graham and other islands. Teal Jones, along with its contractors, provides direct employment for 100 people on Haida Gwaii.

Bryan Fraser, RPF
Sandspit Logging Operation - The Teal-Jones Group
ph. (250) 637 5323
email: bfraser@tealjones.com

TEAL JONES GROUP & PREMIER FOREST PRODUCTS JOIN FORCES

Cosmopolis, WA: Jim Carlson, President of Premier Forest Products, Inc. announced today that The Teal Jones Group has joined forces with Premier Forest Products, Inc. Teal-Jones and Premier bring over 100 years of experience to this new venture.

"The Teal-Jones Group will assume responsibility for raw material supply, along with sales support and the development of new and expanded product lines which are currently underway between the two companies," said Dick Jones. "Teal Jones is pleased to participate in sourcing the raw materials as well as helping to promote, market and distribute Premier's products."

For over 60 years the Jones family has provided customers around the world with top quality wood products, earning a reputation as one of North America's premier producers, manufacturers and distributors. The Teal Jones Group is the largest privately owned sawmill company on the B.C. Coast and the largest producer of Western Red Cedar Shakes and Shingles in North America. They own and operate their own Tree Forest Licenses (TFLs) throughout the province of British Columbia, giving them direct access to timber.

"With a reliable and consistent raw material supply from Teal-Jones, we will now be in a position to manufacture the Premier Panel� in larger volumes to meet our demand," said Jim Carlson. "This new venture allows us to better serve our current markets, as well as provide the opportunity to open new markets and distribution across North America and Europe."

For over 40 years Premier Forest Products, Inc. has specialized in manufacturing a wide range of premium cedar products and is currently focused on manufacturing the Premier Panel� in addition to new and expanded product lines. The Premier Panel� (patent pending) is a major breakthrough in shingle panel design featuring the only two-ply (cedar on cedar) cedar shingle panel on the market. The Premier Panel� also includes a factory installed rain screen system, which provides a vertical drainage plane to vent and drain strapped moisture. A complete line of custom accessories including, fascia, trim, and shingle corners are also available.

"There is no question that Premier manufacturer's the finest shingle panel on the market today," said Tom Jones. "With a cedar backer-board and rain screen system, we simply have the best panel hands down."

The Teal-Jones Group and Premier Forest Products, Inc. share in their commitment to promote responsible and sustainable forest management practices. Teal Jones is an industry leader with their environmental policies and forest certification efforts, which include Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Certification that is known and accepted worldwide. Premier Forest Products leads the way in manufacturing environmentally responsible Green Choice� building products for their customers; including Good Steward Environmental Certificates certifying that products have been manufactured from dead, down, recycled and/or reclaimed fiber.

"I have been friends with Dick and Tom Jones for a long time," said Jim Carlson. "We couldn't be more pleased to have them on board and we look forward to a successful and prosperous venture together. This is great news for our current and future customers."