CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – Beginning on or about June 1, Appalachian Power will maintain the rights of way for some power lines in West Virginia by applying herbicides by helicopter.
“The company generally makes aerial maintenance applications only in less populated areas where terrain and accessibility make it difficult for ground-based crews to safely clear rights of way,” said Travis Klinebriel, utility forester. Rights of way in populated areas, as well as near parks, ponds and other sensitive areas are maintained by other means.
Customers with questions about the company’s aerial maintenance program can call a toll-free number, 1-800-642-3622, for information. Customers also can write for information at Appalachian Power, Attn: Transmission Forestry, P.O. Box 1986, Charleston, WV 25327.
“Herbicides used by AEP and Appalachian Power have been registered for use on rights of way by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDoA),” Klinebriel said. Herbicides to be used are glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, fosamine, triclopyr, aminocyclopyrachlor and aminopyralid. Each has been extensively tested by the manufacturer, colleges and governmental and independent research laboratories.
Rigid EPA and WVDoA restrictions and regulations are carefully observed by Appalachian Power contractors in applying herbicides. All areas to be treated are visually checked by helicopter pilots in advance to verify the location of any sensitive areas and to ensure that people or domestic animals are not visible in the area to be maintained. All applications are made by contractors who are certified applicators. Questions concerning these herbicides may be addressed to the EPA and the WVDoA.
Right of way maintenance agreements between Appalachian Power and landowners are available to landowners who prefer to accept responsibility for clearing the right of way crossing their property in lieu of aerial application of herbicides.
The agreement compensates the landowner by an amount equivalent to the cost of aerial herbicide application, provided the work meets Appalachian’s specifications.
Residents who have questions about the program or who want to alert the company to the location of sensitive areas near power lines, such as springs, wells, streams, lakes, ponds, orchards, crop areas, gardens, pastures, meadows, year-round dwellings, public recreation areas and Christmas tree plantations, should also contact the company. To prevent any misunderstanding about the location of the sensitive areas being reported, the number of the nearest pole or tower should be provided. Numbers are posted on utility poles and on one leg of utility towers.
After the maintenance program begins, a 24-hour telephone service at the above number will provide information daily on locations scheduled for maintenance.
Complaints about possible damage resulting from herbicide applications should be made by contacting Appalachian Power at its toll-free number or the above addresses. Complaints also may be directed to the WVDoA, Pesticide Regulatory Programs Unit, which can be reached in Charleston at 304-558-2209.
Lines scheduled for maintenance in West Virginia include:
FAYETTE COUNTY
Belva-Clendenin 69 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Belva Station, running north through Lilly Branch and Lizemores and ending at the Hartland Station.
Bradley-Layland #1 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Bradley Station and running east, passing Prince and ending at the Layland Station.
Cabin Creek-Clendenin 69 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Cabin Creek Station and running northeast, passing the Kelly Creek Station, Mammoth, Pond Gap and Dutch Ridge Road and ending at the Clendenin Station near Reamer Road in Clendenin.
Cabin Creek-London 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Cabin Creek Station and running northwest, passing through Cedar Grove and Hugheston and ending at the London Station.
Carbondale-Gauley Mountain 46 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Gauley Mountain Station and running east, passing Rt. 16, Gauley Bridge and Brownsville and ending at the Carbondale Station.
Carbondale-Kincaid #2 (Powellton and Elk Ridge Tap) – A transmission line on wood and steel poles beginning at Loup Creek, passing Powellton and the Elk Ridge Station and ending near Armstrong Creek Road.
Carbondale-London 46 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Carbondale Station, passing through Smithers and Dunn Hollow and ending at the London Station.
Kanawha-Matt Funk 345 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Kanawha River Plant Station and running south, passing through Jenkins Fork and Armstrong Creek near Elkridge and ending near Ash Branch Road in Powelton.
Layland-Quinwood 69 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Layland Station and running northeast, passing through the Meadow Bridge and McRoss Stations and ending at the Quinwood Station.
Pax Branch-Scarbro 69 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Scarbro Station, running west towards Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area near Beech Bottom Road and Plum Orchard Lake Road and ending at the Pax Branch Station.
Pax Branch-Toms Fork 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Pax Branch Station and running northwest, passing near East Kingston and Millburn and ending at Toms Fork Station.
Toms Fork-Cabin Creek 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at Toms Fork Station and running northwest, passing near Eskdale and Ronda and ending at the Cabin Creek Station.
GREENBRIER COUNTY
Layland-Quinwood 69 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Layland Station and running northeast, passing through the Meadow Bridge and McRoss Stations and ending at the Quinwood Station.
MCDOWELL COUNTY
Baileysville-Tazewell 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Baileysville Station near Baileysville and running southeast, passing Fan Rock, Wolf Pen, Belcher Mountain, Carswell, Northfork and Keystone and ending at the Switchback Station near Maybeury. This also includes a tap line on steel structures running to the Carswell Station near Carswell.
Jim Branch-Wyoming 138 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Jim Branch Station near Coalwood and running north, passing Welch, Hemphill, Capels, Fan Rock, Baileysville and Clear Fork and ending at the Wyoming Station on Reedy Creek near Lynco. This also includes a tap line on wood poles serving the Welch Station.
Saltville-Switchback 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Switchback Station near Switchback and running southwest, passing near Jenkin Jones and ending at the West Virginia-Virginia state line near Monson.
Wyoming-Baileysville-Jim Branch 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Wyoming Station near Clear Fork and running southeast along Rt. 197, crossing the Guyandotte River and ending at the Baileysville Station.
MERCER COUNTY
Speedway Tap 138 kV – A transmission line on wood structures beginning at the Hatcher Station near Princeton, running north and ending at the Speedway Station near Athens.
NICHOLAS COUNTY
Belva-Clendenin 69 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Belva Station, running north through Lilly Branch and Lizemores and ending at the Hartland Station.
RALEIGH COUNTY
Bim-Blue Pennant 69 kV – A transmission line on wood and steel poles beginning at the Bim Station near Bim and running northeast towards Blue Pennant, passing Chap, Jarrells Creek, Blue Pennant and Edwight and ending at Sundial.
Bim-Hopkins 69 kV – A transmission line on wood and steel poles beginning at the Bim Station near Bim and running northwest towards Hopkins, passing near Kohlsaat, Van, Jacks Branch and Robinson and ending at the Hopkins Station.
Bim-Sundial 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Bim Station near Bim and running north, passing Marnie, Prenter, Sylvester, Blue Pennant, Pettus, Eunice and Edwight and ending at the Sundial Station near Sundial.
Mabscott Station 138 kV – A new transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Mabscott Station and running southwest, passing the midpoint of MacArthur and ending near Richard Snuffer Farm Road.
Mullens-Pemberton 138 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Tams Mountain Station, running southwest and ending near Structure 110-4 near Tams Tower Road.
North Beckley-Tams Mountain 138 kV – A new transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Tams Mountain Station, running north and ending at Structure 108-91.
WYOMING COUNTY
Baileysville-Tazewell 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Baileysville Station near Baileysville and running southeast, passing Fan Rock, Wolf Pen, Belcher Mountain, Carswell, Northfork and Keystone and ending at the Switchback Station near Maybeury. This also includes a tap line on steel structures running to the Carswell Station near Carswell.
Bim-Logan-Sharples 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Pine Gap Station, running through the Logan Station, Rt. 10, Rum Junction, Dehue, Rum Creek, Chambers and Slagle and ending at the Becco Station.
Chauncey-Huff Creek 46 kV – A transmission line on wood and steel poles beginning at the Chauncey Station near Chauncey and running east, passing Rich Creek and Man and ending at Rt. 10.
Culloden-Wyoming 765 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Wyoming Station near Clear Fork and running north, crossing Burning Rock then passing near Cyclone, Amherstdale, Lundale and Kelly Mines and ending at structure 123A near Sharples.
Hopkins-Logan 138 kV (Beth Metering Tap) – A transmission tap line on wood poles beginning near Lick Creek Road at Rock Creek and running west off of the main line, ending at the Beth Metering Station along Stollings Road.
Hopkins-Logan 138 kV (Grassy Fork Tap) – A transmission tap line on steel structures beginning at Willowood Drive and running to the Angel Branch Station. The line then continues on wood poles and runs west, ending at the Grassy Fork Station near McCorkle Road in Priestly.
Hopkins-Logan 138 kV (Stone Branch Tap) – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at Mill Creek Road and running northwest, passing Rocklick Branch Road, Boy Scout Camp Road and Rt. 119 and ending at Kitchen.
Jim Branch-Wyoming 138 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel structures beginning at the Jim Branch Station near Coalwood and running north, passing Welch, Hemphill, Capels, Fan Rock, Baileysville and Clear Fork and ending at the Wyoming Station on Reedy Creek near Lynco. This also includes a tap line on wood poles serving the Welch Station.
Logan-Wyoming #1 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Logan Station near Logan and running southeast, passing Neibert, Rita, Taplin, Man, Hunt, Emmett and Uno and ending at the Wyoming Station near Clear Fork. This also includes a tap line on wood poles running to the Rum Creek Station near Dehue.
Logan-Wyoming #2 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Logan Station near Logan and running southeast, passing near Rossmore, Rich Creek and Coal Mountain and ending at the Wyoming Station near Clear Fork.
Mullens-Wenonah 34.5 kV – A distribution line beginning at the Mullens Station in Corrine and running southwest toward Alpoca and Bud, then running southeast to Pilot Knob. Intermediate points include Montecarlo, Herndon and Covel, as well as a spur line at Noseman Branch that ends near Herndon.
Wyoming-Baileysville-Jim Branch 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures beginning at the Wyoming Station near Clear Fork and running southeast along Rt. 197, crossing the Guyandotte River and ending at the Baileysville Station.
