Vegetation Management Strategies for Rights-of-Way

The purpose of this strategy is to provide principles for current and future vegetation managers that will minimize overall risk to people and the environment while providing safe and reliable electric service. The strategy is designed to protect wildlife, groundwater, surface water, soils, utility customers, utility workers and the general public. The objectives of this strategy are:

• That program prescriptions will be selected which balance environmental concerns, public needs, safety and cost effectiveness.
• That utilities will use Integrated Pest Management methods that are supported through scientific research as minimizing risk and increasing effectiveness for use in right-of-way vegetation management programs.
• That utilities will adopt Best Management Practices (BMPs) for herbicide applications. These practices will be based on the latest scientific research among utilities, manufacturers, applicators, regulators and universities.
• That utilities will set as a long term goal of vegetation management programs the reduction of the level of active ingredient per unit of land area. This is to be accomplished through the proper selection and use of application methods, equipment and technology which will promote and facilitate minimal application rates. Use records for each utility can be used to track application rates.
• That utilities will support research and development initiatives for reduced risk pesticides and for improved herbicide handling (storage, transport, mixing and application) that leads to improved worker protection. The utilities will, where available, adopt those developments that are proven to reduce risk and are cost effective.
• That utilities will encourage the accelerated approval of any risk reduction recommendations to be included on the labels of herbicides used for vegetation control. Utilities will encourage the streamlining of the regulatory process in order to minimize the manufacturer's costs of relabeling.