Right-of-Way Program

ROW Spraying for 2010 

BARC’s contractor, Pittman Tree and Landscaping, will be applying herbicide on BARC Powerline right-of-way in early June.  Only woody plant species (including multiflora rose) that could grow into the power lines or impede safe restoration of power are targeted for herbicide.  Our goal is to minimize the amount of herbicide used while assuring our customers optimum reliability in future years.  An important benefit of our “targeted” approach is that low growing plants that are beneficial for wildlife habitat are largely unaffected and will be encouraged to crowd out woody species. BARC powerline right-of-way in the areas listed below will be affected.  

1. Rt. 42 south of Millboro Springs to Nicelytown
2. State Route 600 (Big River Road)
3. Bratton’s Run Road
4. Effinger, Collierstown, North and South Buffalo, Blacks Creek, Big Hill Road to Denmark

ROW Trimming for 2010

 

BARC will be trimming trees and clearing vegetation in the power line right-of-way's shown in this map during 2010.

 

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BARC ROW Maintenance

In the interest of public safety, the safety of line workers, and to help limit weather-related interruptions or outages, BARC Electric Cooperative regularly trims trees that could come into contact with power lines.
When a tree touches a power line the tree becomes energized and short circuits the power line to the ground. When this happens your lights will blink, maybe several times, and then may go out completely. Computers and digital clocks will have to be restarted or reset. Trees that are too close to the power line can be blown down by wind or knocked down by the weight of ice into the power line. If this happens the lines can be torn down and poles can be broken, resulting in prolonged, expensive outage repairs.
There is another good reason for trimming trees, public safety. If a tree is too close to a power line, then a child or pet climbing the tree could reach out and touch the wire.
We trim trees along primary transmission and distribution lines on an eight year cycle. We are granted permission to trim trees by both written and prescriptive easements.
An integral part of BARC’s right-of-way maintenance program is the use of herbicide to prevent regrowth of woody plant species. One or two years after the floor of the right-of-way has been cut, an herbicide mixture is applied using a low volume selective foliar method to prevent regrowth of woody plant species that could grow up into the power lines later. High volume herbicide application will only be used if the brush density is such that the selective method would be impractical. Only woody plant species that could grow to a height that would touch the power lines are targeted for herbicide. The selective low volume foliar application method allows grasses, low broad leaf plants, berry bushes, rhododendron, and other laurel species to remain.

BARC’s contract right-of-way crew, Pittman Tree and Landscaping, Inc., performs the bulk of the work on the system. Pittman Tree and Landscaping has three arborists on staff certified by the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association. In addition, Pittman Tree and Landscaping has a Class 6 Spray License issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and applies all herbicides in strict conformance to the manufacturer’s instructions and environmental regulations.

Frequently asked questions about tree trimming:

Why does BARC Electric Cooperative have to trim trees?

Tree limbs and power lines aren’t a good combination – especially when severe weather hits. Trees are a common cause of service interruptions and outages, and a damaging storm can disrupt power for extended periods.

In addition, tree limbs and branches that extend into power lines pose a significant risk to public safety even during mild weather. Anyone climbing a tree with limbs and branches that may be intertwined with power lines can come into contact with the wires and be seriously injured.

How often do you trim trees?

Our crews, which include both BARC and contract workers, trim trees around our primary transmission and distribution lines on an eight year cycle.

What kind of pruning techniques do you use?

Our professionally trained crews use methods recommended by the International Society of Arboriculture.

If proper line clearance can be obtained for the next eight years without removing the tree, then the tree will be pruned accordingly. Pruning methods, shown in the illustrations below, protect the health of the tree while still providing the established minimum safety clearance.

The tree is trained to grow away from the line, minimizing the need for and severity of future trimming.

How can you trim trees on my property without my permission?

We are granted permission to trim trees by both written and prescriptive easements under state law. Trees are a valuable resource environmentally, aesthetically, and economically. BARC is not interested in trimming beyond what is necessary for public safety, line worker safety, and reliability of electrical service.

How far do you cut back trees?

The amount of trimming depends on the type of tree, how close it is to the power lines, and the need to maintain clearance for eight years. For example, a fast-growing tree like silver maple may be cut back more than a slow-growing tree such as a hickory. BARC’s standards are as follows:

1. Planting of woody or tree species which may grow up into the energized wire is not permitted in the right-of-way.

2. Right-of-way is trimmed and cut on an eight year cycle. Woody tree and brush species on the right-of-way floor are removed every eight years by hand cutting and/or brush hog. The following widths are “ground to sky”. A tree whose base is outside the below widths may still be removed completely if trimming would be so severe as to endanger the tree or if the tree is considered a “danger tree”.

a. Services: 3' wide

b. Secondaries: 10' wide

c. Single Phase: 30' wide

d. 12.57 kV and 24.9 kV two or three phase: 40' wide

e. 46 kV Transmission: 80' wide

3. No woody vegetation (trees, brush species) is permitted to be planted in the right-of-way.

4. Underground power lines have a 15 foot easement centered above the power line.

5. No buildings, structures, or other obstructions (except fences) may be constructed on the designated right-of-way.

What is your policy on tree removal?

BARC may remove trees outside the prescribed right-of-way width that are dead or deemed “danger trees” if the location or condition of the tree poses an immediate threat to the power lines.

BARC will not remove a tree without the property owner's permission. If a tree is diseased, dying, storm-damaged or is likely to be severely deformed by trimming, we will suggest it be removed.

At a customer's request, we will consider removing a tree if it interferes with a high-voltage line at the top of a utility pole, and if removing it will eliminate the need for future trimming.

BARC will not assist logging companies in the harvesting of trees.

What if trees in my yard are growing into power lines?

BARC Electric Cooperative will move power lines or shut off service so trees can be trimmed or removed safely. BARC Electric Cooperative will not remove trees near low-voltage service lines to a home or business. BARC Electric Cooperative will trim trees around low-voltage service lines coming into a home or business according to the widths designated above.

What do you do with the discarded wood?

All wood is to be lapped and cut in lengths for convenient handling and loading and left on the right-of-way for the landowner. Chipping of brush is normally done if the right-of-way borders on a residential yard or plot of ground. Chips are to be removed or spread at the direction of the landowner. Otherwise, all brush is to be removed from the right-of-way by wind rowing along the edge of the right-of-way.

Can I have the wood chips?

Wood chips are available to customers only if a crew is working in their area. If you are interested in obtaining wood chips, it is your responsibility to locate the crew and make arrangements.

Will BARC notify me before they come on to my property?

Yes, BARC has a program to notify landowners of pending right-of-way maintenance. One or more of the following methods will be used to notify landowners: advertisement in Cooperative Living magazine, advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation, and spot radio advertisements. Several days before the crew arrives, the right-of-way crew leader is responsible to notify landowners in person at the resident dwelling, or, finding no one at home, the crew leader is responsible for leaving a doorknob hanger notification.

What type of herbicides does BARC’s contractor use?

BARC’s contractor will generally use a mixture of herbicides consisting of one or more of the following:  Accord®, Escort®, Garlon®, or Krenite S®. The final selection of chemical and mix ratio is the responsibility of the contractor. BARC’s herbicide contractor is licensed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and applies all herbicides in strict conformance to the manufacturer’s instructions and environmental regulations.