Big Power Lines Can Mean Big Trouble for Trees

For Rocklanders who live near big power transmission lines, trees and vegetation have long served as buffer zones for their homes. But a county lawmaker says rules imposed on utilties by a big state agency have led to clear-cutting of those buffers as a means of protecing the power lines.

Harriet Cornell, chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature, is asking the state Public Service Commission to changes its mind on tree clearing practices and come up with a less-destructive means of protecting transmission lines.

"The clear-cutting we have seen is really harming the suburban quality of life that many families moved to Rockland for," said Cornell, D-West Nyack.

Cornell has  submitted comments to Public Service Commissioner Garry A. Brown and PSC members on the transmission right-of-way (ROW) vegetation management regulations followed in recent years by Orange and Rockland Utilities at the direction of the PSC. To the dismay of property owners and local officials, the stricter regulations have resulted in instances of clear-cutting of trees and removal of vegetation buffers, Cornell said.

These practices began in 2005, as a result of 2003 blackout in the Northeast which was attributed in part, to a tree falling on a power line in Ohio.  After taking note of the concerns expressed by the public, the PSC began a proceeding in April to review the management practices and initiated a public comment period which concluded on June 16.

Cornell termed the results of local vegetation management as "draconian" and stated that the clear-cutting policies have resulted in an aesthetic nightmare to personal property throughout the county and has reduced property values, increased noise pollution, fostered drainage problems and has lessened the overall quality of life.

"I do not believe that the programs used by state utilities for ROW vegetation management conform to industry best practices," Cornell wrote.  "Not all transmission owners have determined the true ROW widths nor have they developed plans that adequately identify and control trees and vegetation located outside or along the outskirts of the ROW.  Clear-cutting for the sake of cost-effectiveness is too drastic a response."

Cornell made several recommendations in her letter, including:

• Decisions concerning trees that may pose a present danger to transmission lines should be made by professional arborists not by tree-cutting company personnel
• Utility Company should increase the frequency of trimming cycles which could eliminate the clear-cutting method and reduce the use of herbicides
• Institute policies to plant more compatible species, the height of which will not interfere with transmission lines
• While compatible species are growing, institute a policy to trim or top dangerous vegetation until reasonable growth is evident in the newly-planted trees

The county Legislature has been outspoken on this issue for sometime.  They have held hearings and meetings with residents and utility company representatives.   In April 2008, in response to an especially aggressive tree removal program by Orange and Rockland Utilities, the Legislature passed a resolution to request the company cease those activities and called upon the PSC to rescind or review the 2005 mandate.

"I am pleased that the PSC is acknowledging the concerns expressed by residents and community officials," said Cornell, "I sincerely hope the PSC can work toward finding practices that protect power transmission while respecting community aesthetics and environmental concerns."

Orange and Rockland Utilities had not comment on the PSC rules for cutting back trees and vegetation to protect power transmission lines.