Feb 19, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Weyerhaeuser Company announced that it has concluded its strategic review for the Kamloops, BC sawmill and timber tenure operations and will close the mill and sell timber cutting rights. "After a long process of examining all of our options for more than a year—including an extended search for a buyer of the Kamloops sawmill—we are announcing the sale of our timber harvesting licences to West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., and the closure of our Kamloops sawmill," said Bob Taylor, general manager of Weyerhaeuser's BC operations. West Fraser has informed Weyerhaeuser it will assign its right to purchase Forest Licence A18694 to International Forest Products Limited. "We understand that the wood supply currently associated with the Kamloops sawmill will be directed to sawmills in Adams Lake and the south Cariboo where future fibre supply is questionable as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestation," said Bob Taylor. "The decision to close the sawmill was accelerated as a result of continuing challenging markets in the US and the rising Canadian dollar," said Bob Taylor. "This announcement is not a reflection on the hard work of our employees, whose dedicated service has been a cornerstone of this operation. Unfortunately, the factors forcing this closure are beyond their control." The sawmill closure will be effective May 12, 2008 and will affect 196 employees.