Addressing System Reliability and Ecological Concerns with Right-of-Way Stewardship Management

2013

Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC)

Accreditation Program

Why Utility ROW Accreditation?

Probably the most effective tool is better communication between the public and transmission owners, both in terms of the reason for and timing of ROW work, the methods to be used (and why the utility has chosen a particular method), and the rights and responsibilities of the utility and homeowner. Lack of communication causes landowner frustration over the loss of trees, which are not always replaced by the utility. Moreover, as I mentioned earlier, many landowners are unaware of the existence of a utility ROW agreement for their property.

…FERC Chair – Wellinghoff - EL&P Interview

In a Nut Shell

“The intent of the ROWSC initiative is to create a validation program that recognizes excellence in Integrated Vegetation Management on the North American Transmission Grid”

…Derek Vannice Chairman ROWSC

How big a land area are we talking about?

North American transmission system in total, including those lines that operate at 35 kV and above is estimated at over 450,000 miles.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has estimated the total land area being managed as transmission corridors encompasses 8.6 million acres.

ROW Stewardship Council - 2013

The ROWSC Program independently accredits vegetation management programs for exemplary and sustainable

performance of Integrated Vegetation Management

Value for IVM Practitioners– Direct and indirect cost savings - using a systems approach to cost effective

vegetation management

– Company recognition as a steward

Value for Agencies– Fosters confidence that IVM practitioners will meet their objectives

– Improves relations with state & federal agencies & stakeholder groups

– Assures compliance with regulation & reduces need for new regulation

Value for Public– Positive relations by engaging stakeholders throughout the IVM process

– Stakeholders are notified and better understand impact

– Societal and community impacts are considered in IVM policies


ROWSC Program

Unique Partnerships – Board of Directors– Non- Governmental Organizations

– Wildlife Habitat Council, The Nature Conservancy, Pollinator Partnership

– Academia– Cornell University, SUNY ESF

– UVM Industry– T-ROW Asset Owner/Manager, UVM Contractor, Consultants and

Suppliers

– Industry Organization– EPRI, EEI

– Government/Regulator– EPA

– Public at Large


ROWSC Program Endorsements

“The Environmental Protection Agency supports the industry’s idea of a credible third party certification program for utility rights-of-way based on Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) principles and standards, which provide a means of reducing the need for pesticides and greater natural species diversity along rights of way and better control of invasive species”Frank Ellis, Chief of the Environmental

Stewardship Branch

USEPA

“The Wildlife Habitat Council is excited to participate in the ROW Steward initiative to support the inclusion of sustainability concepts into land management on a land-based system with such potential.”

Josiane Bonneau Director, Field Programs

Wildlife Habitat Council


ROWSCBoard***

Audit Committee*

Technical Advisory Committee****Affiliations:

BioCompliance Consulting, Inc.PacifiCorp.Asplundh Tree Expert Co.Dow AgroSciencesEnvironmental Consultants, Inc.Purdue University NY Power AuthorityDuquesne LightIVM PartnersAudubon InternationalBonneville Power Admnistration

***Affiliations:Wildlife Habitat CouncilThe Nature ConservancyPollinator PartnershipCornell UniversityProgressive SolutionsCN UtilityDuPontEPAEPRIPacific Gas & ElectricExelonFirstEnergySUNY ESFBioCompliance Consulting, IncUAA

*Affiliations:SUNY ESFNational Grid USAPacific Gas & Electric Environmental Consultants, Inc.

ROWSC Board & Committees

Program AdministratorDovetail Partners, Inc


ROW Steward Program is defined by 10 principles and 32 criteria

Includes principles and criteria on policy, planning and procedures for Integrated Vegetation Management systems

Transmission owners are assessed by a third-party audit team with expertise in ROWs and IVM

Program formalizes relationship among phases of management to prevent, monitor and control vegetation conditions

ROWSC Principles


ROWSC Principles

Understand Pest &

Eco System Dynamics

Set Management Objectives &

Tolerance Levels

Compile BroadArray of

Treatment Types

Account for Economic &

Ecological Effects of Treatments

Site SpecificImplementationof Treatments

Adaptive Management & Monitoring

Tenure & Use Rights &

Responsibilities

Management Planning

Compliance with Law, Standards &

BMP’s

Community & Worker Relations


ROWSC Principles

Compliance with the Law

– The vegetation management program and maintenance practices respect all national, state, and local laws and regulations

– Workers are legally documented and eligible to be employed

Tenure Use Rights and Responsibilities

– Clear evidence of easements, deed, licenses

– Appropriate mechanisms in place and employed to resolve disputes to ensure that proper maintenance activities can occur

– Unauthorized uses of the right-of-way is discouraged


ROWSC Principles

Community Relations and Worker’s Rights

– Stakeholders are:– provided annual summary of IVM planned activities

– informed of the environmental and aesthetic effects and their concerns are considered

– apprised of ROW Stewardship and IVM Benefits

– Communities adjacent to ROW vegetation maintenance activities are provided with educational opportunities related to IVM

– ROW work offered in ways that create high quality job opportunities

– ROW Program Personnel and Contractor demonstrate commitment to the ROW Steward program and associated IVM principles and criteria


ROWSC Principles

Management Planning– The ROW Manager has

– an established Vegetation Management Plan (VMP)

– tactical maintenance plans that take into account local considerations

– Plan is periodically revised to incorporate:– results of monitoring and new scientific and technical information

– to respond to changing environmental, social, and economic circumstances

– Annual summary of vegetation maintenance made available to the public

– Workers are trained and well-qualified to ensure proper implementation of vegetation management plans


ROWSC Principles

Understanding Pests & Ecosystem Dynamics– Vegetation Managers are knowledgeable about:

– the managed ecosystem

– basic biology

– ecology of plant communities

– Other organisms occupying and using ROW system and environment

– Vegetation Managers and IVM Personnel:– Support research and development activities

– Provided with opportunities to improve skills and knowledge through education and training


Setting Management Objectives & Tolerance Levels

– Planning includes & considers social impacts of VM activities

– Tolerance levels are established for incompatible species

– Significant social & community impacts are considered in policies, demonstrated willingness to adjust policies based on impact

Compilation of Broad Array of Treatment Techniques

– Consider wide variety of methods

– Progressively evaluate treatments & add/change where effective

– Equipment, tools, technology are up to date to ensure implementation of vegetation management practices

ROWSC Principles


ROWSC Principles

Accounting for Economic & Ecological Effects of Treatments– Economically viable, taking into account full environmental, social

and operational costs

– Use of selective methods to promote low growing stable plant community

Site Specific Implementation of Treatments– Land management units for different treatments

– Written prescriptions for vegetation management units

– Current surveys used to write prescriptions

Adaptive Management & Monitoring – QA & QC– Periodic monitoring to assess outcomes

– Results of monitoring are incorporated into refined VMP to meet objectives


Independently accredited Integrated Vegetation Management programs that are recognized for exemplary and sustainable performance across the North American transmission grid

Direct benefits to the IVM program through adoption of best practices

Regulatory Benefit – Assures compliance and may head off new regulation

Active engagement with stakeholders

Customer and public education and outreach

Environmental stewardship

Value Impact – ROWSC Program


Next Steps – ROWSC Program


Addressing System Reliability and Ecological Concerns with Right-of-Way Stewardship Management

Technology

land management

utility row accreditation

utility row agreement

vegetation management

rowsc initiative

utility rightsofway

row steward initiative

validation program