Eversource will be performing vegetation management work along our electric power corridors (rights of way) within Woburn in 2022. Eversource performs Vegetation Management activities to support the safe, reliable delivery of electricity along the transmission grid including the ability to access equipment at all times. Vegetation contact with electric facilities may lead to power outages that could impact thousands of electric customers. The clearing of incompatible vegetation in and along the right of way improves system performance, especially during severe weather events.
In accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations (220 CMR 22.00) Eversource is providing you notice of this planned vegetation maintenance work on the transmission right of way (ROW) that is located within your town or city limits during 2022.
As required by the regulations you are being informed of this work through this email. We are also required to submit the notice through the mail and the letter was mailed June 1.
The planned maintenance will include cutting of targeted tall growing species in the floor of the right of way, side pruning of trees to increase clearance from the wires and selective removal of hazard trees.
Property owners along the transmission corridor (ROW) where this work is planned to occur will be receiving letters and door hanger notices informing them of the work in accordance with state regulations.
Safety First and Always
The safety of our employees, our customers, and the public is our top priority during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Our commitment to safety, first and always, is continuous. Eversource representatives will continue to abide by all COVID-19 safety guidelines, which include wearing personal protective equipment, following social distancing, enhanced sanitizing requirements and other federal and state health and safety guidelines.
Why Tree Work is Important
• To protect the electric system, we remove tall-growing species from the right of way and cut branches extending into the right of way. These trees and branches pose a serious safety hazard, now or in the future, if they contact energized equipment.
• Vegetation contact with electric facilities may lead to power outages that could impact thousands of electric customers. The clearing of trees and branches in and along the right of way will improve system performance, especially during severe weather events.
Work in Your City
The vegetation management work may include:
• Clearing of incompatible trees and/or removal of branches that are encroaching into the right of way.
• Removing tall-growing tree species that are incompatible to the transmission system, using manual climbing crew or mechanical tree-harvesting equipment, and tree-chipping machinery.
What You Can Expect
We want you to know that this work will not interrupt electric service to your property. Work hours will typically be 7 am to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday. Due to weather or other unexpected circumstances, from time to time crews may need to work longer hours or on a Sunday.
In certain areas, this vegetation management scope may be more than what has been experienced in the past.
Based on the width of the right of way, the type and number of transmission lines, the location of the lines within the right of way and the topography, Eversource employs a “two-zone” vegetation maintenance method. This method establishes the following:
• The wire zone is the area directly under the transmission lines, extending out 25 to 35 feet outside the wires depending on voltage. Eversource manages the wire zone to promote a low-growing plant community dominated by grasses, flowers, ferns and small shrubs under 3 feet in height at maturity. Within this zone, trees and brush are selectively removed to allow for the establishment and preservation of these native, low-growing plant communities in non-lawn areas. Only established compatible species with a mature height of 15 feet or less at maturity may be allowed to remain in the wirer zone, depending on location. All other plants with a mature height greater than 15 feet will be removed.
• The border zone is the area from outside wire zone to the edge of the cleared area or the easement edge. In this zone, incompatible tall-growing trees are removed and native trees and shrubs that have a mature height of 25 feet or less may remain where possible.
The diagram illustrates a typical right of way condition. This work is occurring within the existing edge of clearing. Your neighborhood may have a different configuration of transmission structures.
Work Performance
Eversource is using approved contractors to conduct this work. The work may be completed in several stages, or at various times during the year. Work may also be performed by different contractors depending on the scope of work required in the particular right of way. Trimming and tree removal is performed throughout the year.
Always Working to Serve You Better
Keeping the lines of communication open is an important part of our work in your community. Please contact us with any questions you might have. We can be reached at 888-673-9943 or MAVegMaintenance@eversource.com
Date: 07/18/2022
Site Address: Locust Street Lot A, Woburn, MA 01801
Mailing Address: 10 Common St, Woburn, MA 01801
Dear: Town of Woburn Representative:
The safety of our employees, our customers, and the public is our top priority during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Our commitment to safety, first and always, is continuous.
At the same time, Eversource must fulfill its critical mission to deliver safe, reliable service to our customers, in support of the economic health of New England and the basic needs of society.
This mission is more important than ever at this deeply unsettled time. We continue to call on our employees and contractors to perform essential work in the field that maintains and improves the reliability of our networks and serves customers’ best interests, while also adapting our work practices to incorporate social distancing, heightened hygiene, and other best practices to protect their, and the public’s health and avoid the spread of coronavirus.
Essential work is activity that maintains or improves the condition of our system and supports our delivery of safe and reliable energy and other services, including vegetation maintenance activities within the transmission power line corridor (right of way) on or near your property.
During this time, Eversource will follow social distancing and other health and safety guidelines in our community outreach efforts, including becoming more reliant on other forms of notifications, including letters, email and/or phone calls, instead of door hangers and in-person visits.
In accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations (220 CMR 22.00), Eversource is hereby providing notice of planned and scheduled vegetation maintenance work on the transmission right-of-way (ROW) that is located within your town or city limits this year.
The vegetation work will involve the cutting of invasive vines within the ROW. The vegetation work will be performed by qualified line clearance contractors and may include off-road bucket crews or manual climbing crews. The work to be performed is the cutting of invasive vines within the ROW.
In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system, we are required to manage vegetation so that it does not encroach upon the energized conductors. The work noted in your area will ensure that we obtain the clearances required to prevent vegetation encroachment. This work is being scheduled for the Summer-Fall 2022.
As required by the regulations, you are being informed of this proposed work through this letter.