Dominion Virginia Power(DVP) will be performing tree maintenance and removal activities near their electric transmission lines along the W&OD Trail in Arlington beginning May 11. The work will be performed in three general areas where DVP has identified vegetation where heights beneath transmission lines exceed National Electrical Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. The three areas are in Bon Air Park, Glen Carlyn Park, and along South Four Mile Run Drive between South George Mason Drive and South Walter Reed Drive.
In August 2003 a significant power outage, referred to as the 2003 Northeast Blackout, resulted in increased oversight and regulation of the interconnected electric grid by the National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), including the development and enforcement of right of way vegetation maintenance standards. A recent survey of the transmission lines extending through the W&OD Trail identified vegetation that must be cut or pruned to comply with NERC standards and ensure the safety and reliability of the electric grid. After a review of the survey's results by certified Arborists, consideration was given in choosing the appropriate vegetation maintenance techniques. If pruning would significantly disfigure the plant or lead to mortality upon meeting required clearance distances the vegetation was identified for removal, otherwise the vegetation will be pruned.
Dominion Virginia Power contract crews will begin this work on May 11th, 2009 and anticipate completion by May 19th, 2009. Questions regarding Dominion Virginia Power's tree maintenance activities along their W&OD Trail transmission lines can be directed to Andrew Cooney, the Dominion Forester overseeing this project, at 703/934-6714 or andrew.l.cooney@dom.com.
See how they did that? Used to be that these cutbacks sometimes involved lots of local pushback and some negotiation over what got cut. Tired of that, they got NERC to set standards (which I'm sure didn't come straight from them at alll) which the power companies are now required to follow. Someone local doesn't like it? Too bad, it's a federal reg.
Posted by: MB | May 12, 2009 at 08:45 AM