Nat'l Grid 2020 Vegetation Operational Plan RECEIVED national rid
DEC 12 2019 Vegetation Strategy
CITY OF SALEM 939 Southbridge Street Worcester,MA 01610
BOARD OF HEALTH 508-860-6282 mariclaire.rigby@nationalgrid.com
December 9, 2019
Mayor Kimberley Driscoll
93 Washington Street
Salerp, MA 1970
Deari Mayor Kimberley Driscoll:
In compliance with 333 CMR 11.06,45 Day Yearly Operational Plan Public Notice, Review and Comment,
please review National Grid's(New England Power Company and/or Massachusetts Electric Company) 2020
Yearly Operational Plan (YOP)at the following website(hard copy available upon request):
htt s:. www9.nationalgridus.com/non htmliNational%20Grid 2020%20YOP.pdf
Please review the enclosed YOP map(s)that locate the right-of-way corridors and the plotted location of
known sensitive areas including public and private drinking water supplies. If there are any additional
sensitive areas located on or near the rights-of-way, please advise us as soon as possible so we may
establish permanent records and implement appropriate field protective actions. We particularly rely on
this process to collect corrections to the public wells and to record the location of private wells.
A copy of the Environmental Monitor Notice is enclosed and published under the Massachusetts
Environmental Policy Act(MEPA): htti2:llwebl.env.state.ma.us/EEAiemel)alemonitor.aspx
National Grid's YOP details specific information pertaining to the intended 2020 program. Please note that
the YOP also lists the rights-of-way from the 2019 treatment program in case National Grid needs to
request a "touch-up" retreatment of scattered locations from our contractor(s). If upon review of the
previous year's treatments, National Grid finds a site(s)within your municipality that need follow-up
treatments,this letter serves as notification of that follow-up treatment.The individual landowner(s)will
be also be notified about this work.Please note that scheduled rights-of-way are subject to change based
onl workplan constraints.
This notification also serves as a 21 day herbicide application notification. As detailed in National Grid's
Five Year Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) and Yearly Operational Plan (YOP),this treatment is
c nducted as a component of an integrated vegetation management(IVM) program that also utilizes
echanical and natural control techniques. National Grid's c rrent Five Year Vegetation Management Plan i
(1019-2023) is posted at the following website (hard copy available upon request):
https://www9.nationaIp rid us.cominon htmI/National%20G rid%20VMP%202019-2023.Pdf
As described in the VMP and YOP,the program will consist of a late winter-spring mechanical control, cut
surface (CST), basal treatment,or dormant stem; a summer selective foliage or cut stubble, and, as
nece sary,fall CST, basal, or dormant stem treatments.
In compliance with 333 CMR 11.06-11.07, no herbicide applications will occur before the conclusion of the
45 daV YOP review period,the 21 day treatment notice and the 4$ hour newspaper notice. At the end of
these review periods, which can run concurrently, no application shall commence more than ten days
before nor conclude more than ten days after the treatment periods listed above.
Salem:1479
nationalg rid
Potential Treatment Periods*
January 27,2020—May 29,2020 May 29,2020-Oct 16,2020 Oct 16,2020—Dec 31,2020
CST Foliar CST
Basal CST
Basal
Dormant stem Basal Dormant Stem
Cut stubble
* The exact treatment dates are dependent upon weather conditions and field crew progress.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts recommended herbicides for use in sensitive areas listed in Section 7
(pages 13-15) of the YOP will be selecti4ely applied to target vegetation by experienced, Massachusetts'
licensed/certified applicators that walk along the rights-of-way using backpack equipment. Copies of the
manufacturers' herbicide labels and fact sheets are also included in the YOP,Appendices 8 and 9.
1 1
The work will be performed by one of the following companies:
Lewis Tree Service,Inc. Stanley Tree Vegetation Control Service,Inc. Lucas Tree Experts Davey Tree Expert Co.
300 Lucius Gordon Drive 662 Great Road 2342 Main Street 12 Northbrook Drive 1500 N Mantua St
West Henrietta,NY 14586 North Smithfield,RI 02896 Athol,MA 01331 Falmouth,ME 04105 Kent,OH 44240
(585)436-3208 (401)765-4677 (978)249-5348
(800)339-8873 800-445-8733
This informational 21-day notificatio follows Chapter 132B,section 6B of the Massachusetts General Laws,
333 CMR 11.05-11.07 Rights of Way anagement and Chapter 85,Section 10 of the Acts of 2000. National
Grid's vegetation management program is subject to federal and state regulations only. By statute, local
permits or rulings are not applicable.
For inquiries concerning safety of the herbicides, please contact:
MDAR-Pesticide Division-ROW Coordinator
251 Causeway Street,Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114-2151
Telephone:(617)626-1782
Please contact me if you have any qu�stions about the application and monitoring of the vegetation
management program. I
Sincerely,
Mariclaire Rigby
Lead Vegetation Strategy Specialist
Enclosures: Environmental Monitor Notice and Municipal Map(s)
CC: Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Private and Public Water Suppliers
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Lewis Tree; Lucas Tree Experts;Stanley Tree;Vegetation Control Services; Davey Tree Expert Co.
Salem:1479
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
4 Department of Agricultural Resources
u,,p'
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500,Boston,MA 02114 DAR
617-626-1700 fax: 617-626-1850 www.mass.gov/agr xlAssACNUSETTSGEPARTMERT
OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
CHARLES D.BAKER KARYN E. POLITO KATHLEEN A.THEOHARIDES JOHN LEBEAUX
Governor L�.Governor Secretary Commissioner
NOTICE
Pursuant to the provisions of the Rights-of--Way Management Regulations,333 CMR 11.00,to apply herbicides to control
vegetation along rights-of-way,a five year Vegetation Management Plan(VMP)and a Yearly Operational Plan(YOP)must be
approved by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources(MDAR). National Grid has submitted and holds a
current VMP,therefore,notice of receipt of a YOP and procedures for public review is hereby given as required by Section
11.06(3).
National Grid has submitted a YOP to MDAR for 2019 and National Grid's YOP identifies the following
municipalities as locations where theX intend to use herbicides to treat their electric Rights-of-Way in 2020:
2020 Mun,ici alities
Athol Groveland North Andover Swansea
Attleboro Hampden Palmer Taunton
Auburn Hanson Peabody Templeton
Berkley Haverhill Ra nham Wakefield
Billerica Lawrence Rehoboth Walpole
Bridgewater Lee Rowe Ware
Brockton Leicester Ro alston Warwick
Chelmsford Lenox Salem Webster
Dighton Leominster Saugus West Bridgewater
East Bridgewater Lynn Seekonk West Brookfield
East Longmeadow L nnfield Sharon Westford
Easton Mansfield Sheffield Westminster
Fitchburg Marlborough Somerset Whitman
Florida Methuen Southbridge Wilbraham
Foxborou h Millbury Spencer Winchendon
Gardner Monson Sterling
Georgetown Newbury Stockbridge
Great Barrin ton Newburyport Sturbridge
In 2020 National Grid will conduct a selective herbicide treatment program on their rights-of-way as part of an
Integrated Vegetation Management(IVM)program on transmission and distribution lines.
The intended vegetation control program will be consistent with the guidelines set forth in National Grid's VMP and
YOP. Herbicides will be selectively applied to target vegetation by licensed/certified applicators carrying backpack or hand
held application equipment.
National Grid will only use herbicides recommended by MDAR for use in sensitive areas for their IVM program.
Pursuant to 333 CMR 11.04,no herbicides will be sprayed within any designated"no spray sensitive sites." Instead,
mechanical only methods will be used.,to control vegetation in these areas.
Public notification will be provided to each"affected"municipality at least twenty-one days prior to any herbicide
application and in a newspaper notification at least 48 hours before the beginning of the spray season.
In accordance with 333 CMR 11.06(2),National Grid's YOP includes the identification of target vegetation;methods
of identifying,marking and protecting sensitive areas;application techniques;the herbicides,application rates,carriers and
adjuvants proposed for use;alternative control measures,a list of the application companies and YOP supervisor;procedures
for handling,mixing and loading herbicides;emergency resources including local,state and federal emergency telephone
numbers;maps of the rights-of-way that include mapped sensitive areas,and herbicide fact sheets and labels.
PUBLIC REVIEW
MDAR seeks to verify the location of sensitive areas defined in Section 11.02 and reported in the YOP. MDAR itself
has a limited ability to survey the geography,land use and water supplies in all the communities through which rights-of-way
pass. Municipalities have most of this information readily available,and the particular knowledge with which to better certify
the sen itive areas in their communities. MDAR,therefore,requests,and urgep�the assistance of the"affected"municipalities
in revi�wing the completeness and accuracy of the maps contained in the subrriitted YOP.
The Y6P can be viewed on MDAR's website:http://www.mass.gov/eea/agen�ies/air/pesticides/vegetation-management and
earl -o eration- lans.html or National Grid's website:ht s://www9.nationalgridus.com/transinission/c3-8 standocs.as
MDAR has established the following procedures for this review:
Copies of the YOP and this Notice will be sent by the applicant to the Conservation Commission,Board of Health(or
designated health agent),the Head of Government(Mayor,City Manager,Chair of the Board of Selectman)and appropriate
water suppliers of each municipality where herbicides are to be applied during the calendar year of 2020;and if applicable,to
the Natural Heritage Endangered Species Program of the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife,the
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Municipal
agencies and officials will have forty-five days,following receipt of the YOP,to review its map for inaccuracies and omissions
in the location of"sensitive areas not readily identifiable in the field."
Municipal agencies and officials are requested to forward the YO to the appropriate official(s)in their municipality
wh are qualified to certify the accuracy of the sensitive areas indicated on the maps. The maps should then be"corrected" and
returned to the applicant and a copy should be sent to MDAR,at the address listed below,within the forty-five day review
period. If a city or town needs more time to carry out this review,it should send a written request for an extension to MDAR
and cite why there is a"good cause"for requesting additional time.
The applicant is required to make corrections and the corrected maps will be sent back to the city/town that requested
the disputed changes within fifteen days of receipt of the request. MDAR will decide whether or not the YOP should be
approved without the requested changes. MDAR will consider the"final approval"of a YOP individually for each
municipality.
The twenty-one day public review period of the Municipal Notification Letter may serve concurrently with the forty-
five day YOP review period in order to provide public notifications as required by 333 CMR 11.06-7,if the applicant has an
approved VMP and if all the requisite city-town offices that received copies of the YOP completed their review and all
corrections were duly made by the applicant and approved by MDAR. i
A failure by the city/town to respond to the applicant's submission of the YOP within the forty-five day period will
automatically be considered by MDAR to indicate agreement by the municipal officials with the sensitive area demarcations
pr vided by the applicant in their YOP.
Any questions or comments on the information provided in this tice and the procedures established for the
m1cipal review outlined above should be addressed to: '
Clayton Edwards,Rights-of-Way Programs
Massachusetts State Pesticide Bureau
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston,MA 02114-2151
Any questions or comments regarding the YOP should be addressed to:
Mariclaire Rigby
Lead Vegetation Strategy Specialist
National Grid Vegetation Management Strategy
939 Southbridge Street,Worcester,MA 0 610
I
COMMENT PEROID ENDS AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS(5pm)Friday,January 24,2020
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