Our yearly operational plan for our Hydropower Canals, Electric, Steam, and Gas distribution lines, and public pathways serves to provide details to public officials, and the region in general, regarding herbicide application in our service area. This plan must be prepared annually and serves to complement a five year Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) that must also be available for public review.
 

Yearly Operational Plans

Public Review and Comment

Yearly Operational Plan

About Yearly Operational Plans

HG&E must be able to access utility lines while preventing damage from vegetation to maintain safe and uninterrupted utility service. In addition, vegetation must be managed along the canals that are part of the HG&E hydropower operations. Control of vegetation along the canal banks is particularly important to prevent structural damage to the canal walls.

Management of vegetation in the HG&E utility Rights of Way (ROWs) is performed using a combination of mechanical removal methods, such as cutting and mowing, and herbicide application. The HG&E plans for vegetation control are outlined in a Vegetation Management Plans (VMP) that is subject to review and approval by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, which has regulatory jurisdiction over herbicide application in utility line ROWs. Each year, HG&E must prepare a Yearly Operation Plan (YOP) that describes management practices outlined in the VMP.

The YOP provides detailed programs of vegetation management for ROWs along the canals and the steam, gas, and electric transmission systems of HG&E. Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. prepared these plans for HG&E as required by 333 Code of Massachusetts Regulations 11.00, Rights of Way Management. Included in the YOPs are:

- Locations of the ROWs that will be managed under this program.

- Methods for applying herbicides that HG&E will use.

- Herbicides that HG&E may use, along with herbicide safety information.

- Copies of the current VMP.

- The locations of any areas that may be sensitive to herbicide application, including private drinking water wells.
 

Public Review and Comment

The YOP has been reviewed by the Public and government officials during a comment period from February 9, 2011 through March 25, 2011. Notices regarding the availability of the YOP for review were published in the Massachusetts Environmental Monitor on February 9, 2011.  

A notice will be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 48 hours prior to herbicide application. The notice will include the approximate dates and locations of herbicide application, and the herbicides proposed for use.

 

Yearly Operational Plan

(Note: all links open in a new window, and require Adobe Acrobat to view)

Final 2011 YOP

YOP Figures
Note: Species-specific maps are not available. For further information contact Sarah Haggerty of the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program at (508) 389-6362 or sarah.haggerty@state.ma.us.
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Figure 7a
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Figure 7c
 

Appendix A - Vegetation Management Plan

Appendix B - Electric Transmission/Distribution ROW Maps
Appendix B - Map 1
Appendix B - Map 2
Appendix B - Map 3
Appendix B - Map 4
Appendix B - Map 5

Appendix C - Steam Distribution/Condensate Collection ROW Map

Appendix D - Gas Distribution Vault ROW Map

Appendix E - Canal Right-of-Ways Map

Appendix F - Herbicide Fact Sheets
Appendix F - Sensitive Area Materials List
Appendix F - Glyphosate.pdf
Appendix F - Imazapyr.pdf
Appendix F - Metsulfuron Methyl.pdf
Appendix F - Triclopyr.pdf

Appendix G - Methods for Flagging Sensitive Area
Appendix G - Figure 1
Appendix G - Figure 2
Appendix G - Figure 3
Appendix G - Figure 4
Appendix G - Figure 5
Appendix G - Figure 6
Appendix G - Figure 7
Appendix G - Figure 8
Appendix G - Figure 9

Appendix H - Herbicide Labels and MSDS

Appendix I - HG&E Summary of Canal Wall Maintenance Responsibilities

Appendix J - Endangered and Threatened Species Protection Plan

Appendix K - NHESP Management Recommendations

Appendix K - Vegetation Management of Existing Right-of-Ways (ROW) in State-listed Turtle and Vernal Pool Habitat
Appendix K - BMP in Turtle Habitats
Appendix K - BMP in Vernal Pool Habitats

Appendix L - NHESP Rare Animal Observation and Emergency Work Form
Appendix L - Rare Animal Observation Form
Appendix L - Rare Plant Observation Form
Appendix L - Emergency Work Form
Appendix L - Plants NHESP Habitat Assessment Survey Guidelines

Appendix M - Well Area / List
Appendix M - Private Drinking Water Supply Wells
Appendix M - Potential Well Locations Map

Appendix N
Appendix N - Public Notice
Appendix N - Approval Letter

Appendix O - Lower Riverside Park Vegetation Operation and Maintenance Plan
Appendix O - Lower Riverside Park Vegetation Operation and Maintenance Plan
Appendix O - Landscape Plan

Appendix P - Lower Riverside Park ROW Map