Trees, weeds and brush in the right of way create obstacles for the linemen, and if allowed to grow large, create power outages and threaten reliability of service to our members. Spraying weeds and brush with herbicides is by far the most efficient manner of controlling the growth of noxious weeds, brush and unwanted trees within utility rights of way.
(A) Vegetation management is crucial to provide reliable power to our members.
(1)The areas targeted are non-maintained fence rows and rural area road sides in our easements that have not been mowed or maintained.
(2) Areas within subdivisions will not be sprayed, however the path leading to the subdivision may be sprayed at the discretion of the REMC.
(B) The method of application being utilized currently is low volume – target specific method.
(1) This method of application to targeted species reduces the amount of herbicide applied to our rights of way and helps preserve beneficial species by only treating what is needed and greatly reduces drift to off target plants.
(2) Areas of application consist of non-maintained fence rows, rural areas, road sides and other areas within Bartholomew County REMC’s right of way easements that are not mowed or maintained on a regular basis.
(3) Products used during for the application are selected for their effectiveness and are approved by the EPA as well as the State of Indiana. Treatments near water such as lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers will be done with products that are approved and appropriate for that specific area.
(C) Spraying for Bartholomew County REMC will be conducted between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.
(1) The contractors used are fully licensed by the Indiana State Chemist.
(2) The herbicides used have been approved by the Environment Protection Agency and registered with the State of Indiana.
(3) Landowners may request a list of the products to be used on their property.
(4) Some members desire to have BCREMC not spray certain areas of its right of way has led to the creation of a no spray program. This policy addresses the permitting of no spray areas, and sets up requirements for landowners who choose not to allow Bartholomew County REMC to spray trees and brush in its rights of way on their land. Landowners may request that rights of way not be sprayed. To join this program, landowners must fill out a no spray agreement. Upon approval of the no spray permit, Bartholomew County REMC will issue no spray tags on the internal map. Bartholomew County REMC will annually place an article in the Electric Consumer (newsletter of the cooperative) opening applications for no spray areas.
a. Permits will be approved immediately upon application and must be received 30 days prior to the spray season starting on Memorial Day of each year.
b. Applications will remain on file until homeowner chooses to relinquish their application.
c. By enrolling in this program, the landowner will agree to take responsibility for the maintenance of the no spray areas. If the landowner does not control trees, weeds and brush within no spray areas that threaten power lines, Bartholomew County REMC will send the landowner notice to destroy the brush, trees or weeds within a stated 30 day period for destruction. If the landowner fails to destroy the brush or weeds within the notice period, Bartholomew County REMC will maintain the area by spraying or any other method that Bartholomew County REMC deems efficient.