Utility Arborist Newsline€¦ · NESC, CARB, FAA, and PUCs (and no, this is not meant to be a...

Focusing on safety as their highest valuehas helped the line clearance crews forThe Davey Tree Expert Company maintain-ing ROWs for the Newberry Electric Coop-erative record more than 2,300incident-free work days.

Davey is subcontracted by the cooperativein Newberry, South Carolina, to maintain1,600 miles of primary distribution linesserving about 14,000 electric accounts.The Davey crews celebrated 10 years ofincident-free work days in March.

“Safety is number one, whether among myown people or my subcontractors,” said JasonMerchant, vice president of engineeringand operations for Newberry Electric

Cooperative. “If my guys or my sub-con-tractors are not working safe, they won’twork here. This milestone shows how Daveyand Newberry Electric work together.”

Foremen with Davey use a combination ofbest practices to maintain a safe workingenvironment, including daily safety meet-ings, regular job observations and effec-tive job briefings.

But the Newberry crews go above and be-yond minimum requirements set by theOccupational and Safety Health Adminis-tration and the U.S. and state depart-ments of transportation.

Utility Arborist NewslineMAY/JUN 2015

VOLUME 6

NUMBER 3

INSIDEFocus on Safety Leads to

10 Years of Incident-Free Days ............................1

UAA Officer List ........................4 President’s Message ..............4Exec. Director Message ........5Outreach Committee

Update ................................7Industry News ..........................8Safety Tailgate ........................13Profile in Utility Arborist

Management....................15Regional Reports ....................32

FOCUS ON REGULATORYUPDATES

Social Media and WebResources ........................16

Regulatory Changes and theEffect on the LineClearance Contractor ....18

Tree Worker Safety:Yesterday, Today, andTomorrow..........................21

Regulatory Changes toUtility VegetationManagement Activitiesin the U.S. ........................24

Regulatory Update onHerbicides from DowAgroSciences ..................28

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Focus on Safety Leads to 10 Years of Incident-Free Days

T H E O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E U T I L I T Y A R B O R I S T A S S O C I AT I O N

(Continued on page 3)

By Matt FredmonskyThe Davey Tree Expert Company

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Utility Arborist Newsline

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Kenny Rowe served as a supervisorfor the Newberry account beforebeing promoted to regional safetyspecialist for Davey.

Rowe said they once spent monthsgoing through the Davey safety man-ual one page at a time.

“We would print off the tailgates forevery crew for the Thursday morningmeeting,” Rowe said. “The guyswould have to read the tailgate forthat week, and then that Thursdaymorning I wouldn’t read it to them. Iwould have them explain it to me. Iwanted to make sure they read itand understood it. It was a culturewe lived by. We didn’t just read it.We didn’t just do it. We lived by it.”

That culture continues with the ac-count’s current general foreman,Chris Scott, who holds daily close-call communication meetings withthe crews to talk about a day’s closecalls and ways to avoid them.

“The guys that have been here sincethe beginning hold a lot of pride in

reaching more than 2,300 incident-free days,” Scott said. “And theymake sure when a new hire comes onboard that they stress to him howthey all look out for each other.That’s the biggest thing here is thatevery crew looks out for one anotherand not just themselves.”

Merchant provides a work spacewithin his office at the cooperativefor his subcontractors, includingDavey, to maintain constant commu-nication regarding equipment status,crew members and other work issues.That close relationship is critical tomaintaining a safe work environment.

“He goes in and out as one of myown,” Merchant said. “If those guys

are having issues within our system Itry to mitigate those on my side, andvice versa if he’s having issues withhis guys or equipment, we’ve had aworking relationship where I wouldhave them shut that crew down andgive up a little progress to make surethey had what they needed to worksafely.”

Merchant said the cooperative ex-tended its contract this year withDavey for five years.

“That tells you right there we’repretty impressed with their work,”he said. “Davey has been excep-tional. These guys are doing a heck-uva job.”

Davey has maintained the safetyrecord through eight hurricanes, in-cluding Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Thenumber of incident-free days is up-dated daily by Scott on a large signjust outside the yard where crewspark their equipment.

Scott said the goal of the crews nowis to reach 3,000 incident-free workdays.

“Every morning, we go over safetyand the obstacles they may en-counter that day,” Scott said. “If it’sthe start of the school year, we’lltalk about school buses and watchingfor traffic and kids. If it’s huntingseason, we’ll talk about deer huntersand being careful in the woods. It’sabout adapting to and preparing foryour surroundings.”

May–June 2015

Focus on Safety (Continued from page 1)


Executive Director - Philip Charlton1620 New Port Vista Dr., Grafton, WI 53024(513) [email protected]

President - David FleischnerTrees, Inc.650 N Sam Houston Pkwy EastHouston, TX 77060(713) 213-2329 • [email protected]

Past President - Peggy JelenArizona Public ServiceP.O. Box 53933, Phoenix, AZ 85072(602) 371-5250 • [email protected]

President Elect - Joe OsborneMiddle Tennessee EMC555 New Salem Hwy, Murfreesboro, TN 37129(615) 494-1504 • [email protected]

Vice President - Craig KellyPacific Gas & Electric9211 Stillwater Rd., Redding, CA 92002(530) 246-6573 • [email protected]

Treasurer - Jim NeeserDavey Resource GroupP.O. Box 394, Forest Lake, MN 55025(651) 202-1088 • [email protected]

Manager - Jessica CarrollISA, P.O. Box 3129, Champaign, IL 61826-3129(217) 355-9411 ext. 221 [email protected]

Education Coordinator - Coni ArseneauISA, P.O. Box 3129, Champaign, IL 61826-3129(217) 355-9411, ext. [email protected]

Director - Paul HuryszDuke Energy526 S Church St., Charlotte, NC 28202(703) [email protected]

Director - Timothy BodkinNational Grid723 Pierce Rd., Clifton Park, NY 12065(518) 433-5917 [email protected]

Director - David PalenEnvironmental Consultants, Inc.520 Business Park CircleStoughton, WI 53589(608) [email protected]

Publications Coordinator - Nadia Geagea [email protected]


If you have ever had the opportu-nity to look at pictures from the

early days of our industry, what yousee would most likely look very dif-ferent from today. The uniformsworn may have consisted of a hatand collared shirts; a climber in atree may not have had ropes; a largetwo person saw. Look at those samepictures today, though, and you willsee significant changes. There wouldbe hard hats and safety glasses, lan-yards and multiple lifelines, chain-saws with chaps.

Regardless of where you live orwork, whether it be in distribution ortransmission, electric or gas, as autility or a contractor, we operate inan environment that is heavily regu-lated on the federal, state, and locallevels. There exists a complex webof policies and laws that are over-seen by NERC, FERC, OSHA, DOT,NEPA, ANSI, NLRB, BLM, USFS, USDA,NESC, CARB, FAA, and PUCs (and no,this is not meant to be a comprehen-sive list; these are merely the firstthat came to mind in the UnitedStates. For those who are interna-tional members, I suspect you wouldbe able to list the same in your homecountry). Each of them, in their ownunique ways, impact on areas suchas safety and training, wildlife pro-tection, reliability, storm restora-tion, labor, and work scheduling.

Our business has become ever morecomplex—a veritable alphabet soupof agencies. Yet, what we are tryingto do still remains a simple concept—

ensure the safety and reliability ofthe electrical network, which is aninfrastructure that is critical to na-tional security, health, and welfare.

One reality, however, seems to holdtrue: we cannot expect to turn backthe clock. I am certain that each ofyou has your own story about beingaffected by regulation—taken to-gether, I am sure they would makefor fascinating reading, good or bad.

So what can we do? We must investtime and energy into education andtraining. It affects the people whoperform the work, the equipmentwe utilize, the places and time wework. Therefore, one of our primarychallenges has been how to adapt.And I think that represents one ofthe strengths of our industry. Rise upto the challenges at hand and de-liver outstanding results, all thewhile performing at the highestlevel of professionalism.

Our industry has been, and will con-tinue to be, about putting a personand a piece of equipment at a tree.The way we accomplish that willchange, in ways we may not be ableto see today but taken in the knowl-edge that we will manage, as wehave since the days when our busi-ness was in its infancy.

I would like to thank you for yourcontinued support of the UAA. Ihope you enjoy this issue of theNewsline and wish you a safe andhappy spring!

President’s MessageBy David Fleischner

Utility ArboristAssociation 2014 - 2015 Officers

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Executive DirectorMessage By Phil Charlton

The UAA and the Southern Chapter ISA renewed theirpartnership this year. Our joint meeting was held in

Mobile Alabama in March with about 550 inattendance. I am very appreciative of theChapter’s leadership and planning teams,the UAA staff, and our sponsors. The UAATraining Committee planned a great educa-tional track—everyone was committed toexcellence and the results showed it.

Jessica Carroll has played a central role forUAA for many years. In fact, John Morris,President of the Southern Chapter recog-nized her contribution and awarded herwith the President’s Award. CongratulationsJessica! It was well deserved.

“Southern Chapter is fortunate to be ableto share her professionalism and her hard

work through our joint effort to co-host the UAA andSouthern Chapter Annual Conference,” said Dwayne Carterof the ISA Southern Chapter.

The overwhelming success of the meeting left both organi-zations asking, “Why don’t we do this every year?” That isexactly what we plan on doing. We have each made a

long-term, joint commitment to an annualspring meeting. The UAA is already lookingforward to developing a 2016 program thatwill appeal to UAA’s worldwide membership.Be sure to mark your calendars for March ofnext year. I hope to see you in Tennessee.

Of course the UAA and Southern Chapter ISAmeeting was just one of many ways to learn,network, and earn your CEU’s in 2015. Otheropportunities are already planned for Ten-nessee, Washington, Ohio, New York,Florida, Colorado, and Halifax. In addition,six webinars and the online quizzes will con-tinue to be offered throughout the year. Weencourage you to take advantage of one ormore of these events.

May–June 2015

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Tree Trimming Meets Cost Cutting

It’s Time for a Change.Vegetation Management operations are ready for technology, and Lewis Tree Service is ready to deliver. Eliminate the costly delays associated with paper maps, forms and reports. Connect your VM team with your utility’s applications and systems. Monitor work status in real time, and quickly respond to hot spots, storms, and new work. It’s a concept we call Intelligent Vegetation ManagementTM, and we’re ready to start when you are.

To learn more or to schedule a meeting, visit lewistree.com/intelligentvm


May–June 2015

The Outreach Committee has been busy over thepast year. We’ve reviewed our website to ensure

that it is working smoothly and content is adjustedwhere necessary—ensuring that when you are look-ing for information you’re going to find it! Ourteam’s mandate is to educate both internal and ex-ternal stakeholders/groups, evaluate/foster devel-opment of relationships with various complementaryassociations and managing our association’s website.To that end, we’ve published another document forour members to use help explain why we supportand promote best practices within our industry. Tofurther support our members, we’ve also beguntranslating these documents to support our interna-tional UAA Members.

Over the next few months, we will be establishing asub-committee to support our international mem-bership, updating our strategic plan, value proposi-tion, and completing our annual website review.

UAA is your community, and if you have thoughts,comments, and/or criticisms, I strongly encourageyou to contact us so that we can hear from you.

The Outreach Committee is a dynamic team withrepresentation from USA, Canada, Brazil, Hong Kong,and Australia—enabling our committee to have a di-verse perspective. If you’d like to join us, pleasecontact me and I’ll be pleased to add you to our team.

Cameron Shankland, Outreach Committee Chair, canbe reached at [email protected].

OutreachCommittee Update

Outreach Committee Members

David Fleischner, Champion, Trees Inc.Cameron Shankland, Chair, GeoDigitalAnne-Marie Moran, National GridDerek Vannice, CN Utility Consulting, Inc.Erica Lewis, N Georgia EMHeath Frewin, Ergon Energy Corp.Jack McCabe, Davey Resource GroupJim Zwack, Davey Tree Expert Co.John Ho, CL Power Larry Abernathy, Davey Tree Expert Co.Patty Stephanoff, ITC TransmissionPedro Mendes Castro, CEMIGSarah Ball, Edison Elec. InstituteScott Nelson, Trees Inc.Phil Charlton, UAA

By Cameron Shankland, Outreach Committee Chair

With unmatched capabilities in the fi eld, the Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmer has redefi ned Right-of-Way maintenance making crews more productive and effi cient, while adding a new level of safety and control to the industry.

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Industry News

Utility Line ClearanceContractors Volunteerfor Community ArborDay Event

PSEG-LI Line Clearance Tree Trim-mers help out at the Long IslandArboriculture Association (LIAA) an-nual arbor day event.

The 25th anniversary of the first of-ficial arbor day site for the LIAAwas at Belmont Lake State Park inNorth Babylon, New York on March21, 2015.

Line clearance crews helpedspruce up the park by removinglarge dead trees and pruning deadbranches around the heavy trafficarea in the park. They also helpedclear up brush for a better view oftheir Christmas tree in order tomake it safe for the annual Christ-mas tree lighting.

While planning the event, CelesteRichards, President of the LIAA andPSEG-LI Line Clearance Supervisor,came up short on equipment andmanpower.

“I reached out to the managers ofthe companies, and they werequick to respond,” said Richards.“They have volunteered in the pastwith community events and I amproud to have them as part of myworkforce.”

The inclement weather did notdeter the workers. Randy Nelson,general foreman of Lewis TreeService, and Jeff Kuhn, generalforeman of Asplundh Tree ExpertCompany, both agreed.

“It was a great day.” They said.“We were part of a great eventhelping out in the community andwe all worked together to get thejob done.”

A special thank you to our LineClearance Tree Trimmers for beingpart of the community.

Davey TrainingAids in AccidentAssistanceBy Matt Fredmonsky

Chris Fox was driving along Route 1in Philadelphia when he cameacross a car crash blocking an in-tersection.

Fox sees accidents often—he drivesa lot as a consulting utility foresterfor The Davey Tree Expert Company.Typically, by the time Fox sees acrash police and EMS have alreadyresponded. But this day, the dayafter Christmas, emergency respon-ders had not yet arrived.

He quickly pulled over.

“I just immediately fell back on myDavey training,” Fox said.

A female driver had lost control ofher car, which veered across themedian and crashed into a lightpole. The accident knocked her un-conscious.

“After I knew my truck was out ofthe way so as to avoid myself get-ting injured, I was able to put outcones to direct traffic,” Fox said. “Iinstructed one of the witnesses tocall paramedics to let them knowwhat was going on and notify po-lice. I had another witness assist mein adjusting the seat back, becausethe woman’s legs looked like theywere pinned underneath the dash.”

Fox determined the crash victimwas breathing, albeit unconscious,

but the car’s seatbelt wasstretched tightly across her throat.Fox had unlocked the seatbelt andall the car’s doors when a policeofficer arrived.

The woman slowly started regain-ing consciousness, and Fox assistedthe officer in freeing her from thecar. They then tried to keep hercalm until paramedics arrived.

“Everything worked the way that itshould have,” said Geoffrey Etzel,a project coordinator with DaveyResource Group, a division ofDavey Tree.

Etzel travels around the countryscheduling basic CPR and emer-gency-scenario training sessions forDavey utility employees. Fox hadjust taken part in the more thansix hour course in the fall.

“I’m very proud of Chris,” Etzelsaid. “Not only is this training in-tended for use in the field, but it’salso meant to help anyone in ouremployees’ families, or anyonethey might come across in theirpersonal life. This just happened tobe someone he came across whiledriving.”

Police were grateful for Fox’s help.The driver sustained no life-threat-ening injuries.

“It’s really easy to not do the firstfew steps,” Fox said. “You need tomake sure, when you pull over toassist somebody, that you’re notgoing to be part of the problem.And when you’re out on the road

Volunteer line clearance tree trimmers assist with preparations before the annual LongIsland Arboriculture Association arbor day event in North Babylon, NY.


you need to have your vest on sopeople can see you. For me, havingthe cones out and wearing my vest,all those little details, that’s thekind of information people can ig-nore in training or in an emergency.

“I would have had no idea what todo if I hadn’t gone through the train-ing with Davey,” he said. “I try totake full advantage of every trainingopportunity I get. You never knowwhen you’re going to need it.”

Davey CanadaPromotes BlairVeitch to VicePresident

The Davey Tree Expert Co. ofCanada, has announced the promo-tion of Blair Veitch to the position ofvice president and general managerfor Canadian utility operations.

Veitch, who hasworked for Daveyfor 28 years,started in theutility division in1984 before beingpromoted to dis-trict manager forresidential serv-ices in Edmontonin 1991. He waspromoted to area manager of west-ern residential/commercial opera-tions in 2009, and in 2012, Veitchwas promoted to vice president ofoperations.

Veitch served on the British ColumbiaLandscape and Nursery Associationand also served on the Davey Presi-dent’s Council from 2000 to 2002. Heis a 1990 D.I.T.S. graduate.

“Blair has a wealth of knowledgethanks to his three decades withDavey and his service in Alberta andBritish Columbia,” said James Doyle,executive vice president and generalmanager, Davey Tree Expert Co. ofCanada. “His institutional knowledgeof the company and service areaswill serve Davey well as we continueto expand our Canadian operations.”

Wolf Tree, a DaveyCompany, PromotesJackson, Tolley

The Davey Tree Expert Company hasannounced the promotion of DavidJackson and Brad Tolley to opera-tions managers within Wolf Tree, aDavey company.

Jackson startedhis career withWolf Tree in 1972as a groundmanand most re-cently held theposition of re-gional manager.

Jackson receivedDavey’s Out-standing Manager Award at the 2013National Managers’ Meeting.

Tolley has earnedfive separatepromotions, in-cluding regionalmanager for theSmokey Mountainregion, sincestarting withWolf as a ground-man in 1998.

“Both David and Brad have played in-tegral roles in the growth of WolfTree through their combined 59 yearsof experience here,” said MichaelMcCollum, regional vice president forWolf Tree. “We look forward to theircontinued leadership.”

Vermeer SC40TXStump CutterFeatures ExclusiveRide-on Platform

Operators have improved speed,maneuverability and efficiency

Vermeer has introduced the SC40TXstump cutter, featuring a first-of-its-kind, ride-on platform providingspeed, maneuverability and operatorcomfort.

The SC40TX is the first stump cutteron the market with a stand-on plat-form to drive the machine. Com-pared with traditional self-propelledstump cutters, operators will be ableto maneuver the machine fromstump to stump faster.

“The SC40TX was developed to bringinnovation to the 40-to-50-horse-power (29.8 to 37.3 kW) stump cut-ter class,” said Mike Rector, treecare/rental and landscape solutionsspecialist forVermeer. “Themachine hasapplications inmany marketsincluding treecare contrac-tors, arborists,landscape, mu-nicipality, golfcourses andground main-tenance.”

The SC40TX has a hydraulic grounddrive and cutter wheel, meaningthere are no belts or chains to serv-ice. There is the traditional locationon the side of the machine, whileoperators also can choose to standon the platform on the back of themachine, which is ideal when spaceis tight and allows for easier reposi-tioning of the machine as needed.

For more information on Vermeerproducts and services, visit the com-pany’s website at www.vermeer.comor email Vermeer at [email protected].

May–June 2015

(Continued on page 10)



Wright Tree Service Launches SecondSafety Training Video

Wright Tree Service launched a new safety trainingvideo, “Drop Zone Safety Awareness: Pruning andFelling.” This video is the second in a series of safetytraining videos released by Wright Tree Service to en-courage safe work practices.

“Drop Zone Safety Awareness:Pruning and Felling” highlightsproper procedures for pruninglimbs and felling trees as autility line clearance worker.The video reviews the plan-ning stage of tree pruning andfelling, roping techniques tocontrol limbs and trees, andemphasizes the Wright TreeService Brother’s and Sister’sKeeper motto. In addition, it reviews the Drop Zone andCaution Zone areas, and identifies potential hazardsthat may occur while working on a job site.

The video is targeted to new employees at Wright TreeService, but is also intended to be useful for all employ-ees as well as others in the utility vegetation manage-ment industry and the general public.

“We are excited to announce our second training video,which again focuses on our company’s number one pri-ority, safety,” said Wright Tree Service President andChief Operating Officer, Will Nutter. “In this video, wego into more detail about leading causes of serious andfatal injuries in our industry, including Drop Zonesafety, and rigging and fellingtechniques. Our goal is to con-tinue educating employeesand promoting safe and pro-ductive crews.”

“Drop Zone Safety Awareness:Pruning and Felling” is avail-able in both English and Span-ish at www.wrighttree.com. A third safety training videois set to release following. To view the first video in theseries, “Safety: Our Highest Priority,” go to www.wright-tree.com, and click on the Employee Resources tab.

For more information please contact Sara Harpenau at515-271-1135 or [email protected].

Industry News (Continued)

To view the firstvideo in the series,“Safety: Our HighestPriority,” go towww.wrighttree.com,and click on theEmployee Resourcestab.

“Drop Zone SafetyAwareness: Pruningand Felling” isavailable in bothEnglish and Spanish.


May–June 2015


ISA Annual International Conference and Trade Show

Orlando, Florida • August 8 –12, 2015

Gaylord Palms® Resort and Convention CenterEverything In One Place, So You Can Have It All.

Make your reservations now!www.isa-arbor.com/conference

Room Rate: Single/Double — $199 USD (inclusive of resort fee)Go online to book your room today.

Visit www.isa-arbor.com/conference for complete conference updates and registration information.

Follow us

Trade Show

Sunday, August 97:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Welcome Reception on the Trade Show Floor)

Monday, August 109:30 am – 3:30 pm (Climbers’ Corner 9:55 – 3:20)

Tuesday, August 119:30 am – 3:30 pm (Climbers’ Corner 9:55 – 3:20)

Tree Academy Workshops

Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9

Conference Registration

Full Conference RegistrationRegister on or before June 12, 2015 Member – $445 USDNon-Member – $575 USDStudent Member – $95 USD

on International Society of Arboriculture and

Educational Sessions

Monday through Wednesday, August 10-12

@ISArboriculture

Spanish Educational Sessions—Check the website for details

New in 2015


May–June 2015

Safety in the Field—SnakebitesBy Richard Yarnell, PG&E

Poisonous or nonpoisonous,snakebites should receive promptmedical attention. A person with

a snakebite should be taken to a hospital as quicklyas possible—even in cases where a snakebite is onlysuspected.

First, move away from the snake. Remember to re-main as calm as possible. Do not run. Walk calmly tothe nearest location where someone can notifyEmergency Medical Services (EMS), or by calling9-1-1 from a mobile phone and providing your cur-rent location.

First Aid Treatment• Keep the injured person from moving around.• Keep the injured person as calm as possible,

preferably lying down.• Immobilize the bitten extremity and keep it at

or below heart level.• Quickly get the injured person to medical

facilities.

Other Treatment ConsiderationsShock: Keep the injured person lying down, com-

fortable, and maintain body temperature.Remove constricting clothing or jewelry: The

area may swell so remove items promptly.Breathing and heartbeat: If breathing stops, give

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If breathingstops and there is no pulse, cardiopulmonary re-suscitation (CPR) should be performed by thosetrained to do so.

Identify the snake if possible: If the snake isdead, bringing it to the hospital is appropriate.Be careful, dead snakes can reflexively bite forup to one hour. In today’s digital world, picturesare easy to get. A quick picture of the snake,even with a smartphone, will help medical pro-fessionals identify the type of snake. Medicalprofessionals in areas that are prone to havingsnakebite incidents can most likely able to iden-tify the type of snake based on the wound.

Clean the affected area: The bite area should becleaned with soap and water, and blotted drywith sterile gauze. Dressings and bandages canbe applied, but only for a short period of time.

Cold therapy: Cold compresses, ice, dry ice,chemical ice packs, spray refrigerants, andother methods of cold therapy are not recom-mended in the first-aid treatment of snakebites.

Snake Bite SymptomsMild to moderate symptoms include mild swellingor discoloration, and mild to moderate pain at thewound site with tingling sensations, rapid pulse,weakness, dimness of vision, nausea, vomiting, andshortness of breath.

Severe symptoms include rapid swelling and numb-ness, followed by severe pain at the wound site.Other symptoms include pinpoint pupils, twitching,slurred speech, shock, convulsions, paralysis, un-consciousness, and no breathing or pulse.

How to Deal with Delayed Medical AttentionIf the victim of a snakebite is unable to reach med-ical care within 30 minutes, place a bandagewrapped two to four inches above the bite to helpslow venom from spreading throughout the victim’sbody. The bandage must not cut off blood flow froma vein or artery. A good rule of thumb is to make theband loose enough that a finger can slip under it.

A suction device may be placed over the bite tohelp draw venom out of the wound. Make no cutsor incisions when using these devices. Suction in-struments are often included in commercialsnakebite kits.

How to Prevent a Snake Bite• Wear long pants and boots taller than the ankle.• Avoid tall brush and deep, dark crevices.• Make plenty of noise and vibration while walking. • Do not approach snakes, avoid them.• Do not count on or expect rattlesnakes to make

noises.• Be aware and alert of your surroundings. Situa-

tional awareness is critical.

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May–June 2015

Luther SandersonDavey Tree Corp., Senior Supervisor, Jones-Onslow Account

Profile in Utility Arborist Management

Davey Employee Celebrates 50 Years inUtility Line ClearanceDavey Tree Corporate Communications

Luther Sanderson spent the past 50 years keepinga watchful eye on utility lines and the trees thatgrow in their ROWs from the ground, buckets, andsaddles.

“The first time I climbed, they had to ‘shoo’ meup the tree,” Sanderson says with a laugh. “Until Icould sit back, relax, and swing around a bit,climbing didn’t come natural.”

That was in 1965, when the big-eyed, 18-year-oldlanded a job with the company he’d been trying towork for since he was 16. Sanderson, now seniorsupervisor on the Jones-Onslow account, didn’thave any experience with tree maintenance ortree removal equipment before he applied for ajob with The Davey Tree Expert Company.

But he was so enamored with the Davey men he’dwatched deftly climbing trees near a local servicestation that he eagerly wanted to learn more.

“I watched them work and had never seen anyonedo things like that,” Sanderson says. “I wanted towork at Davey so bad.”

Sanderson was hired as a groundman on theCarolina Power & Light (CP&L) account on March8, 1965. Within his first six months at Davey,Sanderson was promoted to foreman on the CP&Laccount. He then spent more than 20 years build-ing up Davey’s workforce in his service area, whichled to his next promotion to general foreman in1991. A little more than one year later, Sandersonbecame supervisor, a position he held on the CP&Laccount for nearly 10 years.

Karl Warnke, chairman, president, and CEO ofDavey Tree, said Sanderson’s integrity as a leaderand passion for employee ownership has servedhim well over the years.

“Luther has earned enormous respect and credibil-ity throughout The Davey Company and with utilityclients,” Warnke said. “Luther’s positive attitudeand lasting influence on people and the business ingeneral defines the company’s unequaled cultureand the ‘Davey difference.’”

Sanderson has been a supervisor on the Jones-Onslow account since February 2001.

“You never cut the same tree twice,” Sandersonsays. “You can always find something new to learnevery day. These are the things I tell my crews topump them up—and to pump up myself.”

Doug Bour, operations manager for Davey’s mid-At-lantic utility region, has worked with Sanderson insome capacity for the past 15 years. “I was alwaysimpressed with how he could communicate bid in-formation to me,” Bour says.

But what about Sanderson strikes Bour the most?“What always struck me is his integrity,” Boursays. “He demands a lot from his crews and helpsthem retain that, but also he expects the same de-mands from himself.”

Over the years, Sanderson has enjoyed dragracing, golf and softball outside of field operationsat Davey. Although he’s spent the past 50 yearsdoing the same work each day—and returningsafely home each night—Sanderson said hewouldn’t change a thing about his utility arboricul-ture career.

“I still love my job,” Sanderson said. “I love whereI’m at. I love what I do.”



WEB RESOURCES

Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC)www.aplic.org

FRCC (Florida Reliability Coordinating Council)www.frcc.com

MRO (Midwest Reliability Organization)www.midwestreliability.org

National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)standards.ieee.org/about/nesc

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)www.nerc.com

NPCC (Northeast Power Coordinating Council)www.npcc.org

ReliabilityFirst (RF)rfirst.org/Pages/Rfirst.aspx

SERC (Southeast Electric Reliability Council)www.serc1.org

SPP (Southwest Power Pool)www.serc1.org

WECC (Western Electricity Coordinating Council)www.wecc.biz

SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB RESOURCES

Army Corps of Engineerswww.usace.army.milfacebook.com/USACEHQtwitter.com/USACEHQflickr.com/photos/usacehqyoutube.com/user/CORPSCONNECTIONusace.armylive.dodlive.mil/

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html twitter.com/BLMNational facebook.com/BLMNational youtube.com/user/BLMNational mypubliclands.tumblr.cominstagram.com/mypubliclands

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)www.epa.govtwitter.com/epa facebook.com/EPA youtube.com/user/USEPAgov www2.epa.gov/home/greenversations flickr.com/photos/usepagov pinterest.com/epagov/

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)www.ferc.govtwitter.com/ferc facebook.com/FERC.gov flickr.com/photos/ferc-gov

Social Media and Web Resources Related toRegulatory Updates for the UVM Industry

F O C U S O N R E G U L A T O R Y U P D A T E S

Provided by the Wright Service Corp. marketingand communications department

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National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners(NARUC)

www.naruc.orgtwitter.com/naruc facebook.com/pages/National-Association-of-

Regulatory-Utility-Commissioners/201127953237165linkedin.com/company/naruc

National Park Servicewww.nps.govfacebook.com/nationalparkservicetwitter.com/natlparkservice

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)www.osha.govtwitter.com/usdol facebook.com/departmentoflabor plus.google.com/+USDOL/posts instagram.com/USDOL/ linkedin.com/company/u.s.-department-of-labor oshalawblog.com

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicewww.fws.gov

twitter.com/usfwshqfacebook.com/usfws youtube.com/user/USFWS instagram.com/usfws flickr.com/photos/usfwshq

U.S. Department of Transportationwww.dot.govtwitter.com/usdot facebook.com/USDOT youtube.com/user/usdotgov

FIRE-RELATED

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)www.nfpa.orgtwitter.com/nfpa facebook.com/theNFPA youtube.com/user/nfpadotorg linkedin.com/groups/National-Fire-Protection-

Association-76233?home=&gid=76233&trk=anet_ug_ hm nfpa.org/newsandpublications/blogs

flickr.com/photos/32619856@N08/setspinterest.com/nfpa

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)www.fs.fed.ustwitter.com/forestservice facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service/14319842

83714112?ref=hl youtube.com/user/usdaForestServiceflickr.com/search/?w=41284017@N08&q=forest%20service

May–June 2015

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The line clearance industry has experienced numerousadvances in the way that the physical activity of pruning

and removing trees is completed. Improvements in tools,equipment, safety training, professionalcertification, and personnel developmenthave increased levels of safety and produc-tivity, as well as the quality of the overallservice provided to both the utility and thecustomers they serve. These changes havelargely been made across the industrythrough a series of best management prac-tices embraced by the majority of contrac-tors who provide line clearance services.

Just as the changes in tools and technol-ogy have improved, the impact of an ever-increasing regulatory environment has hadan effect on line clearance contractors aswell. What once seemed to be a relativelysimple industry has turned into one thathas regulatory pressures at many levels.Increases in safety regulations through an

ever-changing Occupational Safety and Health Administra-tion (OSHA) environment, hiring practices that requiremore documentation, wildfire prevention due to declared

states of emergency, and increases in traf-fic control regulations at both the localand state level are but a few that impactthe day-to-day operations of contractedline clearance crews.

OSHA 1910.269—Key Regulatory Changes

Effective on a variety of dates in 2015 and2016, OSHA has implemented significantchanges to the language seen in OSHA1910.269, which regulates the ElectricPower Generation, Transmission, and Distri-bution industry. This is also the regulatorybasis used in the Line Clearance Tree Trim-ming industry. Of the numerous changesmade to these regulations, eight are eithernew or changed in a way that directlyimpacts the daily operations of the line

Regulatory Changes and the Effect on the Line Clearance ContractorBy Scott Huffmaster, Vice President, Trees, Inc.

Through all ofthese current andongoing regulatory

changes, thegenuine hope is

that they are beingput in place to help

the tree workeroperate more

safely so that theygo home safely atthe end of the day.

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clearance contractor. The intended purpose of these chang -es is to provide increased levels of safety and improvedcommunication which translates into a safer workforce.

One of these changes is focused at the crew level, requir-ing the utilization of a full body harness and fall arrestsystem to be worn while working aloft in the bucket.While some states already have this regulation in placedue to its own state’s safety and health agency require-ments, the implementation of this federal requirement byOSHA will make this change effective across the country.The new federal requirement will not only help increasethe level of safety provided to employees working aloft ina bucket, but will also help those on the ground more eas-ily audit the crews’ compliance. This is because the fullbody harness and fall arrest system are much more easilyseen from a distance versus the previously allowed stan-dard single waist belt system.

A second change in the OSHA 1910.269 has a direct effecton both the line clearance contractor and the utility. Itdeals with the requirement for formal information transfer(communication) between the two parties regarding char-acteristics of the utility’s infrastructure and the safety ofthe work to be performed by the contractor. The require-ment for this information transfer is intended to promoteimproved two-way communication between the two par-ties. The utility is responsible for communicating informa-tion regarding its facilities and the associated minimumapproach distance (MAD). The contractor is responsible for

communicating any uniquely hazardous conditions thatmay apply to the planned work and communicate anyunanticipated hazardous conditions found during the workcompletion process. For the contractor, the transfer ofthis information must be provided within two working daysof the discovery of the hazardous condition.

Adjusting to Change

These are just a few of the regulatory changes that di-rectly affect line clearance contractors. They provide justa glimpse of the evolving world of regulation that impactsall levels of the vegetation management operation indifferent ways.

Now, more than ever, the importance of capable front linesupervision is imperative to ensure that the contractor re-mains in compliance with the myriad of regulatory changes.There will be an increased need to be able to train, com-municate, track, implement, and audit these changes. Con-tinuous improvement will be required by these vital frontline supervision personnel, as well as an increased back of-fice support system to ensure that the proper documenta-tion is present and tracked in accordance with theguidelines of the specific regulatory change.

Through all of these current and ongoing regulatorychanges, the genuine hope is that they are being put inplace to help the tree worker operate more safely so thatthey go home safely at the end of the day.


May–June 2015


By Keith Norton, Training Manager, ACRT

The tree care industry is quicklyapproaching the 50th anniversary

of a pivotal moment—one thatcaused us to look inward as well asto move forward with an uncompro-mising drive and focus on safety.

Today we might take that focus forgranted, but it wasn’t always thatway.

The critical safety standard that ourindustry adheres to today, ANSI Z133,was initially developed in responseto an avoidable tragedy. An 18-year-old tree worker named Jeffrey Hugg,earning money for his college educa-tion, was killed upon coming intocontact with a primary wire on Aug.17, 1965, in Johnstown, N.Y.

Hugg’s death was a textbook exam-ple of a preventable death on thejob for an arborist, and proved to bea catalyst for a movement that re-shaped the way we think aboutsafety today.

It was through the determined ef-forts of Mrs. Ethel Hugg, Jeffrey’smother, that the seeds of changewere sown in the wake of this youngman’s death. Ethel Hugg was aschoolteacher in Johnstown whoraised important questions about herson’s accidental death, includingwhy the owner of the tree companyput Jeffrey in the situation and whyhe was in contact with a high-voltagewire without formal training. Werethere not simple safety measures,

Hugg asked, that could have beentaken to prevent this tragedy?

Over the next several years, EthelHugg petitioned safety organizations,politicians, and other decision mak-ers in an effort to establish safetystandards for tree care workers. InApril 1968, the Accredited StandardsCommittee (ASC) Z133 was formed.The first Z133 standard, published in1972, was 16 pages long, and formal-ized essential safety standards forthe tree care industry. It has grownover the years. The most recentstandard, published in 2012, com-prises 71 pages, with nine appen-dixes, a glossary, and an index.

No new rule is included without rea-son; each can be traced back to spe-cific incidences that have causedmajor injury or death to one of ourown. New rules are always incorpo-rated only after careful considerationand with a specific purpose in mind.

That brings us to today. We are nowin the process of drafting the newestversion of the Z133 standard. TheASC is currently debating new inclu-sions for the standard, which is ex-pected to be finalized in the latterhalf of 2016 after public review. It isscheduled to be published in 2017.

Experience Level

While it may sound like commonsense, data underscores the follow-ing fact: those with the least amountof arboricultural experience arethose most likely to get injured orkilled on the job.

Specifically, statistics show that treetrimmers with less than six months ofexperience are most likely to experi-ence a fatal accident. The secondmost likely group of workers to incura fatal accident on the job would bethose who have six months to oneyear of experience on the job.

But the third group may surpriseyou—those who have been on the jobfor 25 to 30 years. Why is this so? Forone thing, it is not uncommon forthose with a wealth of valuable ex-perience to have the tendency togrow complacent with safetyconcerns. Simply put, those whohave been doing their job well for

Tree Worker Safety: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Going home to ourfamily and friends atthe end of the day isour number-one job.

On Aug. 17, 1965,Jeffery Hugg didn’tgo home. As we lookback on the efforts ofEthel Hugg and themore robust Z133standard that is in

place today, we mustremember that safetyis a constant, ongoing

process. And thatrequires everyone’s

help.



decades see little reason to changehabits that have worked well forthem for a long time.

Another concern revolves aroundsimple technique in the field. Properhand placement for chainsaws hasbeen in Z133 for years, clearly re-quiring two hands while operatingthe saw. Still, though, we see ar-borists one-handing their chainsawson a regular basis.

For several years, the Z133 hasstated that tree workers shall be se-cured with two means of attachmentwhile operating a chainsaw in thetree. Yet, every month we hear ofworkers cutting their climbing linesand falling. Arborists are even nowcutting themselves out of trees withhandsaws.

Accidental Electrocution

The potential dangers of workingaround electrical conductors, more-over, are well established in our in-dustry. Across the country, we losenearly one arborist per week due toaccidental electrocution, accordingto an Xcel Energy Tree Worker Safetyvideo published in 2012. We can andmust strive to do better.

Approximately 25 percent of theseincidents are due to contact withsecondary, low-voltage wires. Theseinclude service wires that providehousehold electrical currents, whichon average are around 200 amps. It’san unfortunate reality that treeworkers tend to think of these linesas less hazardous than primary wires,and that thus the lines are often-times treated with less caution. Inreality, 200 amps are more thanenough to cause a fatality. As littleas one-tenth of an amp can causethe start of ventricular fibrillation.None of us would stick a finger in anoutlet in our living room with 15-20amps, yet we seem to think it is per-fectly acceptable to grab the tri-plexoutside carrying 200 amps.

These incidents are often true acci-dents, with a tree worker cominginto unintentional contact with aconductor by brushing up against it,backing into it, or other means. Of-tentimes, arborists make direct con-tact with service wires by grabbingthem to move them out of the way.How many times have you heard,“it’s just household current”? Elec-trocution also frequently involves in-direct contact with these hazardousconductors, sometimes through theuse of a tool to raise a service dropto get equipment into a yard. Thereis also the misconception that anyfiberglass tool is nonconductive.Even the highest-quality fiberglasstool will conduct if it is dirty ordamp. With the revision of OSHA1910.269, our committee will be re-viewing Section 4 Electrical Hazardsvery closely.

Changes in Technology

The tools that arborists use everyday have also advanced dramatically.As that has happened, our industryhas needed to re-evaluate the safetymeasures we sometimes take forgranted with traditional tools.

Stump grinders and wood chippersare two prominent examples. Thesetools are both inherently safer thanthey were, say, 30 years ago, but be-cause we’ve accepted a level of “as-sumed safety,” we are not beingquite as careful as we should be.

Statistics paint a grim picture here.Each year, our industry loses ar-borists to wood chipper accidents,even as wood chippers have grownincreasingly efficient. Those of uswho used the old “chuck and duck”chippers remember throwing brushinto the infeed and trying our best toget out of the way. With the adventof the hydraulic feed brush chipper,the task of chipping brush becamemuch more pleasant, and we consid-ered these machines “safe.” In the1980s, hydraulic feed chippers pulled

brush in at around 60 feet per minute.By the 1990s, 120 feet per minute wascommon. Workers have become com-placent with these machines, and it isoften the “new guy’s” job to chip thebrush—giving those with the leastamount of experience and the leastamount of training the responsibilityto operate one of the highest-riskpieces of equipment.

You Can Help

In the 1990s, I set a goal to one daybe a member of the ASC Z133—and ithas been a great honor being ac-cepted by the committee. I oftenhear from my fellow tree workersthat they have no say in the stan-dards, but this is not true. In theback of the Z133 standard, there is aform titled, “Recommendation to Ac-credited Standards CommitteeZ133,” which encourages workers inour industry to offer recommenda-tions of changes or additions to thestandard. The committee takes thetime to read each and every sugges-tion that comes our way.

Going home to our family and friendsat the end of the day is our number-one job. On Aug. 17, 1965, JefferyHugg didn’t go home. As we lookback on the efforts of Ethel Hugg andthe more robust Z133 standard thatis in place today, we must rememberthat safety is a constant, ongoingprocess. And that requires every-one’s help.

About the AuthorKeith Norton is training managerwith ACRT Urban Forestry Train-ing, a division of ACRT, Inc., anemployee-owned utility vegeta-tion management consulting firmheadquartered in Akron, Ohio. Heis also a voting member of theZ133 committee and a member ofsubcommittees examining electri-cal hazards and cranes.



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Regulatory Changesto Utility VegetationManagement (UVM)Activities in the U.S.

By William Porter, Director of Consulting atCN Utility Consulting

CN Utility Consulting (CNUC) iscurrently in the process of review-ing federal and state changes inthe laws and regulations thatdrive utility vegetation manage-ment (UVM). A past review wascompleted in 2009 and, as pre-dicted, it is apparent that thefederal government, the stateutility commissions, and otherregulatory authorities havestepped up their oversight. Thechanges can be characterized asthree primary types: (1) reliabil-ity, (2) system resilience, and (3)customer service.

eliability

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI)January 2013 (updated March 2014)report, “Before and After theStorm,” reviewed several recentUVM reports and came to the conclu-sion that most experts in the indus-try believe utilities are focusing toomuch on clearances and not enoughon the trees that actually cause theoutages. Based on their review, EEImade the following two recommen-dations as the most promising advicefor the industry:

� Find the true cause of outagesand employ necessary vegetationmanagement and

� Coordinate with property ownersand local officials to plant and re-place downed vegetation that ismost conducive to system reliability(EEI, 2014, p.11) (Abi-Samra, 2014).

he Gap between EEIRecommendations and Root-Cause Analysis of Outages

Given these recommendations arecoming from preeminent sources inthe utility industry, it is worth re-viewing what they are suggesting andwhether the advice is being taken.

The first recommendation is pre-sented by EEI as an answer to cycli-cal-, vegetation clearance-centeredprograms that are unsuccessful atproviding acceptable electric relia-bility. Many utility experts believethe common practice of achievingclearances at the time of mainte-nance does not sufficiently fulfill thereliability expectations of utilities,their customers, and regulators. TheEEI report goes on to say that theUVM industry has taken the wrongapproach with strict adherence tospecified clearances on a cyclicalbasis. The missing ingredients: re-moving trees (the trees that causeoutages) and pruning branches (thebranches that cause outages).

The second EEI recommendation in-volving tree replacement is a soft lobto one of the most endemic factorsof UVM decision-making: the public’s

negative reactions to necessary UVMwork. The public’s negativity to-wards UVM has become linked to en-vironmental causes that aresupported by not only the media, butalso the instructive opinions of aca-demic institutions and the rules is-sued by commissions andlegislatures. This association hasdriven UVM programs out of the busi-ness of routinely removing maturetrees before they become hazards topruning only for specified clear-ances, if even that much. This is evi-dent to such an extent that evenconditions like widespread EmeraldAsh Borer (EAB) or mountain pinebeetle kill cannot reverse the lineclearance specifications of UVM pro-grams that are categorically avoidingwidespread large tree removal. Ironi-cally, large tree removal isn’t aboutgetting rid of trees or ruining the en-vironment; it’s about engaging withthe environment, converting the cor-ridor to a more appropriate land use,and wisely managing trees adjacentto the corridor. The second EEI rec-ommendation, which promotes en-gagement of customers and localofficials, is a constructive way forutilities to become good environ-mental stewards.

This author agrees with these recom-mendations, culled by EEI from many

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widely respected resources in theindustry. These include state-spon-sored task force groups, federalagencies such as FERC and NERC, re-search institutions such as EPRI,Power Systems Engineering, U.S.Congressional Research, and privateindustry analysts such as Quanta,Stephen Cieslewicz, and Sig Guggen-moos. However, the application ofthese recommendations should notbe viewed as a rejection of the strictpractice of achieving specified clear-ances. Let the recommendations befully vetted and researched withoutinjecting a bias based on the misap-propriated fact that tree tips touch-ing conductors do not cause outagesor the misguided idea that maturetrees along power corridors shouldbe made to last until they are readyto collapse.

tility and RegulatoryResponse to EEI

Recommendations

Are regulators acting on the EEI rec-ommendations? Are utilities adoptingthese recommendations? If there hasbeen any attempt to follow the firstEEI recommendation, the regulatorand utility response would appear tobe limited and strictly focused onmajor reliability targets. Instead offocusing on comprehensive tree andbranch failure studies, regulatorsand utilities focus on reliability is-sues and then work backwards tocutting select trees. For example,there is a growing movement to con-join statistical reliability formulassuch as SAIDI and SAIFI to UVM deci-sion-making. Focusing on reliabilitymetrics erroneously positions cus-tomer density as the defining factorfor root-cause analysis of tree re-lated outages. Without includingcomprehensive root-cause analysis,reliability metrics are masking thefull extent of tree risks. The secondEEI recommendation, tree replace-ment programs, is also not finding itsway into the regulatory mandates orconsistent utility practice.

The following are a few facts and is-sues that characterize what regula-tors and the industry are focused onthat relates to the EEI’s recommen-dations: � The debate over airspace around

conductors. Who is right and whois wrong about the need to main-tain proper clearances 24/7?

� An unwillingness of the public toagree to a more effective andpermanent solution to tree andpowerline conflicts that is admin-istered by the utility industry.

� A lack of understanding of whatvariables must be collected to de-termine the root causes for tree-related outages.

� Regulators are expecting measure-able reliability improvementsusing selective metrics. They arerequiring on-time cyclical sched-ules, while enforcing strict limitson increases in UVM resources.

� Regulators do not understandwhat constitutes an effective life-cycle asset management programwhere trees are the asset.

� Regulators are not requiring andutilities are not investing in robustoutage investigations based on ex-pert vegetation managementknowledge.

� Regulators are not requiring wide-spread tree replacement programs.

An even more concerning challengeis that there is growing evidencethat the vast majority of trees beingremoved by many utilities are lessthan 12 inches dbh, despite a grow-ing continental increase in maturetree mortality. Current companypolicies often prohibit the removalof larger trees unless the contractorcan establish there is a clear andpresent danger of failure and thetarget powerline is subject to sub-stantial reliability risks. This is com-pounded by the fact that regulatorsroutinely wait until they witness thesevere consequences of UVM deci-sion-making before rules are crafted.The Michigan Public Service Commis-sion, for example, directed utilitiesto develop off-ROW hazard tree

programs in 2015. This decision cameafter a lengthy review of a devastat-ing ice storm. DTE Energy reported75% of outages during a 2013 Decem-ber ice storm were caused by trees.Consumers Energy reported that 25%of tree-related outages during thesame storm were caused by off-ROWash trees (MPSC Docket U-17542,pp.13). Emerald Ash Borer was firstdiscovered in Michigan in 2002.

Without program mandates, line in-spectors and vegetation clearancecrews may take the path of least re-sistance by removing as many smalltrees they can easily secure permis-sion to remove, while continuing toprune rather than remove the largetrees. This approach is also a possi-ble response to the current reliabil-ity-centered regulatory environment,where trees are only removed to en-sure the desired trends in reliabilitymetrics. Judging by the number ofcompanies reporting record-settingSAIDI and SAIFI, UVM programs arelooking much better. Does that meanwe are cutting down the right treesor enough trees? Utilities know whatto do and where to go to achieve re-quired reliability improvements, butare they improving UVM programs,reducing long-term reliability costs,and building storm resiliency?

esiliency

Current UVM programs and regula-tory initiatives are not systematicallypromoting pre-storm resiliency. Re-siliency is the answer sought bythose who have studied storms andfires and therefore understand thereare ways to reduce risks of the in-evitable catastrophe. A few statessuch as West Virginia, Maryland, Cali-fornia, Kentucky, and Connecticuthave passed rules that are aimed atreducing the risk of widespread dam-age and at improving the response.These efforts are limited in scopeand budget but recognize that doingnothing is likely to result in the sameoutcomes as the past. >

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You asked, we listened.

New, UpdatedBrochures Now AvailableUtility Pruning of TreesThis public information brochure developed by the UAA to help the utilityarborist educate the consumer is available. The new version has beenreviewed and redesigned by the UAA Education Committee.

The UAA has listened to our members and wehave developed a brochure that can be used bythe utility to show customers theappropriate and accepted pruningmethods for line clearance.

This brochure is:• Technically accurate• Developed by working utility

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Contact UAA today to view a sample, checkprices and place your order:

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May–June 2015

There appears to be a nexus be-tween the types of UVM regulationsand the level of resiliency. Althoughit has been documented that treesgrowing into energized conductorsdo not, in many cases, cause out-ages, there is little evidence offeredthat maintaining clearances system-wide does not prevent outages. Afternearly 20 years of regulations, Cali-fornia has not backed away fromhard-fast rules regarding specifiedvegetation clearances mandated forpowerline corridors 24/7. Contraryto conventional wisdom, there iscompelling evidence that strictlymaintained clearances do indeed im-prove reliability as well as safety andfire risk reductions (Cieslewicz,Wellinghoff, and Peevey 2013). Thedebate over clearance-based UVMversus reliability-based UVM has pre-vented the commissions, utilities andtheir constituents throughout the USand Canada from taking tangiblesteps towards more effective re-quirements.

The EEI report reviews the recentdecisions by regulatory entities withregards to system resiliency. Therehave been millions of dollars in-vested in T&D upgrades that are tar-geted at improving system durabilityand emergency operations respond-ing to more frequent storms withmore destructive impacts to thegrid. Some states have allocatedmore funds to perform UVM, butthere are few efforts that indicate adeep understanding of the specificconnections between resiliency andUVM. Most UVM program allocationsare based on cost variables, imple-mentation targets and reliabilitymetrics. For example, beyond theannual report already required fromKY IOUs since 2010, the KentuckyPublic Service Commission (PSC) hasrequired Kentucky Power to submit

detailed responses to 114 probingquestions. The PSC wants to knowhow much overtime is spent on treerelated outages, how contractors arepaid, detailed salary information,whether circuits are on a strictschedule, and whether incentive orpenalties are issued for strict sched-ule adherence. It is no surprise thata utility vegetation manager mustdeclare, “storm damage cannot beprevented.” This protest, oftenheard after major storms, is a hardone to fix when few UVM budgets areeven sufficient enough to completescheduled work and ensure reliabilityin the absence of major storms.

Although well-run programs are acornerstone of achieving programobjectives, a clear path must existbetween program implementationand program objectives. Evidencethus far is that regulatory commis-sions do not understand this pathand utilities feel they are alreadyspending too much on somethingthat is outside their control and corebusiness.

ustomer Service

Customers are being heard and theyprovide a feedback loop that de-flects many efforts to improve UVM.The customers’ concerns are ad-dressed at the expense of determin-ing what is the most rational andscientific approach to solving power-line and vegetation-related issues. Inother words, many good UVM ideasare never reviewed or tested be-cause it is a known fact that utilitycustomers don’t like their treesmaintained or removed for electricutility purposes. The extraordinaryefforts by arborists and utility regu-lators in Connecticut to craft astorm-resilient, healthy off-ROW for-est and an on-ROW utility clear zonewere met by a powerful customer re-sistance. This resistance effort wasvictorious and it reaffirmed the be-lief, which is backed by legal rights,that property owners know what isbest when it involves their trees.

Customers do not know what percentof their electric service dollars areexpended for UVM. Many electricservice providers don’t know whatpercent of their customers havetrees that are regularly managed forpowerline safety. UVM managers mayestimate most or even all customersare served directly with UVM (CNUC2012 and 2014 surveys), but theyhave not derived a listing of affectedproperty owners to study commonali-ties and concerns. Property ownerscould be incentivized to make wisevegetation management decisions inthe same way they are making elec-trical usage decisions.

onclusion

The EEI recommendations are fo-cused on two ideas: the cause ofelectric interruptions and right-tree,right-place landscapes. Although reg-ulators have increased reliability re-porting and response requirements,there is insufficient understanding ofthe intersection between outagesand preventative vegetation mainte-nance. Progress in this area is in alarge part limited by other issuesthat are external to tree powerlineconflicts, such as what are appropri-ate customer expectations, what isacceptable reliability performance,what constitutes appropriate urbanforestry management (cycles/clear-ances), and what might be consid-ered resiliency to storms. There iseven disagreement whether main-taining space around the conductorsis effective for purposes of reliabilityor storm resilience.

It is recommended that regulatorsand legislators control the liabilitiesand external influences that con-strain the UVM industry from takingappropriate actions for millions ofmature trees. It is also recom-mended that regulators start invest-ing in research and innovativeprograms that will result in morepermanent solutions.


Regulatory Changes to UVM Activities in the U.S.(Continued from page 25)

C

C



Proposed U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) RulesRegarding the Clean Water Act(CWA) “Waters of the U.S.” Debateand Potential Effect on ROWVegetation Managers

The Clean Water Act (CWA) estab-lishes the basic structure for regulat-ing discharges of pollutants into thewaters of the U.S. and regulatingquality standards for surface waters.Under the CWA, EPA has imple-mented pollution control programssuch as setting wastewater standardsfor the industry. The CWA made itunlawful to discharge any pollutantfrom a point source into navigablewaters, unless a permit was ob-tained.

EPA’s National Pollutant DischargeElimination System (NPDES) permitprogram controls discharges. Pointsources are discrete conveyances

such as pipes or man-made ditches.Individual homes that are connectedto a municipal system, use a septicsystem, or do not have a surface dis-charge do not need an NPDES per-mit; however, industrial, municipal,and other facilities must obtain per-mits if their discharges go directly tosurface waters.

With the current Waters of the U.S.(WoTUS) proposal, the plan wouldexpand the jurisdiction of the fed-eral government (EPA) by impactingall permitting, determinations, andfederally managed programs. Theseinclude waters not historically con-sidered “navigable” under thestatute or in interpretations of thelaw. For example, if finalized, therule change would allow ditches,seasonal flowing waterways, ex-tended flood plains, and even shallowground water and some water reten-tion structures to be determined


Regulatory Updateon Herbicides fromDow AgroSciences

By Nelsen Money, Nrm-VMS, Inc.

The following informationis provided by Dow Agro-Sciences on the currentregulatory issues that mayaffect utility vegetationmanagers.


May–June 2015

jurisdictional—if the agencies decidethere is a “significant nexus” to anexisting water of the U.S.

Most private sector groups believethat this federal expansion is con-trary to the federal statute and in vi-olation of the states’ rights to governwaters within their borders. From apractical perspective, the expansionwould cost the private sector and alllevels of government millions of dol-lars (if not more) in compliance andresource costs in order to fully com-ply with, and implement, the newversion of the rule.

Since most ROWs are located neardrainage areas and swaths, the ex-pansion of federal control over sea-sonal drainage, ditches, andman-made retention areas wouldcreate tremendous complicationsand added cost in managing andmaintaining ROWs. >

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Update on Endangered Species Act(ESA): Will the EPA consult success-fully with U.S. Fish and Wildlife inthe consideration of endangeredspecies?

The ESA, passed in 1973, calls uponthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service andthe National Marine Fisheries Serviceto conserve threatened and endan-gered plants and animals, and thehabitats in which they are found. TheESA also requires all federal agenciesto consult with the services on federalactions that could impact threatenedor endangered species, or their criti-cal habitat. Meanwhile, the FederalInsecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenti-cide Act of 1972 (FIFRA) authorize theEPA to regulate the sale and use ofpesticides in the U.S. through regis-tration and labeling of pesticide prod-ucts. It establishes the regulatorypathway for companies to bring newpesticide products to the market.

This current duplication of effortunder different statutory standardshas resulted in consultation delaysbetween the agencies, leading to nu-merous costly lawsuits—none ofwhich have provided additional pro-tection to endangered species. Thisunnecessarily duplicative review sys-tem threatens our ability to produceagricultural products, maintainROWs, and control invasive specieswith no benefit to our nation’sthreatened and endangered species.

Given recent court decisions, ex-traordinary measures taken by EPA tobring new products to the market,and a National Academy of Sciencesreport highlighting the unworkabilityof the current process, there hasbeen a groundswell of support forfinding a solution to this current bu-reaucratic impasse. There is strongcongressional and industry supportfor a streamlined consultationprocess that meets the requirementsof FIFRA and ESA and is not duplica-tive. The registration decisions mademust adequately protect publichealth and the environment, includ-ing endangered species, while sup-porting the global competitiveness of

the U.S. through the promotion ofagricultural productivity.

Efforts by several U.S. senators andrepresentatives are underway to raisethis issue in the 114th Congress. Thecurrent Administration is also pro-ceeding with streamlining the currentESA consultation process for pesticideregistration actions between EPA andthe Services—including opportunitiesfor stakeholder input.

Prognosis for a Legislative Solutionto the Current National PollutantDischarge Elimination System(NPDES) bureaucracy

The NPDES rule forced the EPA topermit many types of pesticide ap-plications under the CWA, despitethe fact that pesticides are strictlyregulated under the FIFRA. The CWAis specifically designed to encouragecitizens to file suits against farmersor other users of pesticides for

alleged violations of the permit.There is no limit on the liability forfarmers, ranchers, golf courses, pub-lic utility ROWs, private homeown-ers, and businesses. Activist lawsuitsagainst EPA, as well as both agricul-tural and non-farm users, have com-pelled many in Congress to seekclarification that the CWA was not in-tended to permit pesticide applica-tions and shield pesticide users fromactivist lawsuits. Passage of suchbills enjoy tremendous, filibuster-proof bipartisan support in both theHouse and Senate.

Utilities and vegetation manage-ment contractors can reach out toDOW local representatives for in-formation on regulatory require-ments and issues. For any updateson local regulatory issues andchanges, visit http://www.dowagro.com/vm/contact/specialists.htm.


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(800) 622.2562A

– Tim Thompson, CEO, Lake Region Electric Cooperative

R

R E G I O N A L Reports

� IndianaBy Richard L. KarberResponse by Chad W Griggs, TransmissionForester, Indiana Michigan Power

1. Hazard trees, specifically deadash, sitting outside the right-of-way(ROW). This will continue to be anissue in my area of NW Indiana andSW Michigan as we tend to get sub-stantial snow fall coming off of LakeMichigan usually accompanied by highwinds, in an area with a fairly largenumber of trees. Most of my trans-mission line spans are vegetated.

2. We are using ground patrols, inconjunction with aerial patrols twicea year. The aerial patrols take placeonce in the spring and again in thefall. The lines are flown in differentdirections from the spring to fall toallow for a different perspective.Trees along creeks, ditches, andrivers are given special consideration.

3. Currently we are removing ormaking safe hazard trees as we findthem. This has been a challenge astrees fail and new ones die everyyear. Access to the trees can be diffi-cult due to weather and time ofyear, which in turn, results in delaysand more time spent. Trying to miti-gate these hazard trees also pullscrew away from routine mainte-nance work and can put enormousstrain on an already meager budget.

4. The main roadblock in mitiga-tion is time and money. Finding andretaining qualified crews can also beanother stumbling block. Snow, rain,and crops can also impede progressor completely shut your operation

down for a day or even a couple ofweeks. Another roadblock is havingenough equipment to go around forqualified individuals to operate thatequipment.

5. The main resource is allocateddollars to specifically target hazardtrees along with time. Many of thesetrees are large and difficult to getto. In many cases, specialized equip-ment is needed due to the fact thatthere are not suitable trees adjacentto many of these hazard trees thatcrews can work from. Finding and re-taining those individuals who havethe skill set to be able to make in-formed decisions on what trees needto be removed and what trees toleave is another important aspect,which is sometimes overlooked. Weare also still trying to understandhow these trees are failing to betterhelp us mitigate the trees that aremost likely to fail.

� Rocky MountainBy Donald Lovato

Greeting fromthe Rocky Moun-tain region, fi-nally the warmerweather is hereto stay—the RockyMountain regionenjoyed somemuch needed,late season snowthat added to oursnow pack up in the high country.We’re hoping this will lessen the firethreat over this summer. In other

news from around the Rocky Moun-tain region, the 29th Annual ThinkTrees New Mexico Urban Tree CareConference took place on February5–6 in Albuquerque, NM. More than350 industry professionals attended—from utility foresters and line clear-ance employees to landscapearchitects, municipal and landscapemaintenance personnel. The confer-ence agenda featured 13 speakers—both local and national experts. Afull list of speakers, sponsors, anddonors are available at www.think-treesnm.org. The Board of ThinkTrees New Mexico would like to senda special thanks to Anne Beard Sys-tem Forester for PNM, along withTrees, Inc. as they have alwaysstepped up and played a huge part inthis conference’s success.

Response by Lenny Ortiz, VegetationManagement Coordinator, Jemez Moun-tains Electric Cooperative, Inc.

1. Siberian Elm Trees are a promi-nent hazard to our utility, and alsodealing with members not agreeingto trimming or remove trees in ourown ROW.

2. We are trimming as many ofthose types of trees as possible aswe go down our circuits. We are alsotrying to inform our members to thehazards associated with their trees.

3. The steps that we are taking tomitigate this serious problem are asfollows: • Mitigate the hazards by removing

or trim the trees as much as thecustomers will let us.

• Apply a stump treatment herbi-cide that will be effective onthese elms, so they don’t becomea hazard later.4. The roadblocks that we are

running into are members are notletting us cut the tree down to theground. They only sometimes let usdo minimal tree trimming.

5. The resources that we arestarting to use are bringing moreawareness to the public by lettingthem know what the safe distancesfor planting trees are. We have tore-evaluate our polices on tree trim-ming. When members won’t let uscut the tree down, we will do a

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The following report includes responses from various regions that havewritten about the topic of hazards.

Survey Questions:1. What is a prominent hazard in your area that impacts your utility?2. How are you dealing with the hazard?3. What steps have you taken to mitigate the hazard?4. What are some of the roadblocks impacting the mitigation of the

hazard?5. What resources are necessary to mitigate the hazard to an acceptable

risk level?

Donald Lavato


SMARTER DECISIONS. BETTER RESULTS.

Arborcision™ copyright all rights reserved Global ThinkTank Institute LLC 2013

© 2015 ACRT, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1333 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310 | (800) 622.2562ACRT is an equal opportunity employer. EEO/AA

Exclusively from ACRT, the only independent vegetation management consultants

“In order to achieve a budget reduction and an 80% decrease

in workload

We had to be innovative. ™

enhanced safety, rate stabilization and increased reliability

– Tim Thompson, CEO, Lake Region Electric Cooperative

Request a demo at arborcision.acrtinc.com or contact Kevin Jones to learn more at 800.622.2562 ext. 327.



Name: ________________________________________________________

Company: ______________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________

City, State & Zip: ________________________________________________

Sponsor (if applicable): __________________________________________

Bus. Phone: ____________________________________________________

Home Phone:____________________________________________________

Fax: __________________________________________________________

Email:__________________________________________________________

CHECK ONE: c Business address c Home address

CHECK ONE: c Membership Renewal c New Member c Address change/correction

CHECK ONE: c Electric Utility Employee c Contractor Service Employee c Materials/Chemical Supplierc Academia/Research c Other

Dues may be paid by cash, check or credit card.

Please check one of the following:c Visa c MasterCard c American Express

Name on Card___________________________________________________

Card Number____________________________________________________

Exp Date: ______________________________________________________

DUES FOR 1 YEAR ARE $40.00 USD.

Send completed form with your check (US Funds drawn on a US bank)payable to Utility Arborist Association and mail to:

UAA PO Box 3129 Champaign, IL 61826-3129

or fax with credit card information to (217) 355-9516.

UTILITY ARBORIST ASSOCIATION APPLICATION 2014-2015


safety trim so the member can keepthe tree trimmed away from ourROW. But, if we have to go back totrim the trees, we will have tocharge the members for all the workwe had to redo.

Response by Douglas Lyons, Line Clear-ance Supervisor, Colorado Springs Utilities

1. I would say wind is the primarycause of problems to our overheadelectrical system being on the frontrange of the mountains in Colorado.We are prone to high winds at times,which has been the cause of a num-ber of outages. Usually it is the windblowing debris into the lines anddamaging trees in and out of the ROW.

2. We are on an optimal three-year trim cycle for our line clearanceprogram for the distribution side. Bydoing this, we have less tree-relatedhazards in our system.

3. We have a proactive line clear-ance program. It is completed everythree years so the trees do not getto be much of a problem in thatamount of time. On the transmissionside, we inspect and trim everythree years on the 115kV system,and annually inspect and trimmedfor the 230kV transmission system.We are also scheduled to replace be-tween 200 and 300 power poles thatfailed inspection or need replacedfor other reasons. We plan on in-stalling 50 to 100 wildlife protectionson poles this year since these are thethings CSU can control.

4. First and foremost, it alwaysseems to be the budget that has thegreatest impact. Keeping and main-taining a skilled and qualified workforce, and keeping up with and creat-ing and presenting training materialsare some other roadblocks, along withstaying on top of industry standards.

5. It’s necessary to maintain abudget and qualified work force toinspect, track, and schedule work tobe performed to maintain the elec-trical system. Having an emergencyresponse plan in place, and havingthe training necessary to implementthe plan are also other necessary resources.

� UtahBy Dylan EvansResponse by Randy Miller, Director of Veg-etation Management, PacifiCorp.

1. We serve six western stateswith 45,000 miles of overhead distri-bution lines and 15,000 miles ofoverhead transmission lines—abouthalf of our transmission lines aresubject to FAC 003-3. We have differ-ent prominent hazards in differentareas of our service territory. InUtah, Idaho, and Wyoming ourprominent hazard is beetle killconifers. In the Pacific Northwest ourprominent hazard is fire. Both ofthese hazards affect our distribution

and transmission system. 2. To proactively address the haz-

ard that results from beetle killconifers, we perform inspectionsregularly to identify and mitigatehazards. Keeping on a regular cyclehelps us stay ahead of the hazardpresented by the dead and decliningtrees. To address the hazard of fire,it is important to stay on a routinecycle and have a hazard tree inspec-tion and mitigation program to en-sure we limit any fall-ins that couldcause a fire. We work areas on aroutine cycle, but are aware of prob-lem areas and inspect them moreregularly to try and stay ahead of it.We also keep accurate inspection

Chapter Name Representative E-mail Address

Australia Craig Hallam [email protected]

Brazil Pedro Mendes Castro [email protected]

China/Hong Kong John Ho [email protected]

Florida Jess Mason [email protected]

Illinois Tim Mackey [email protected]

Indiana Richard Karber [email protected]

Michigan J. Michael O’Connor [email protected]

Mid Atlantic Kathy McDaniel [email protected]

Midwest Scott Skopec sskopec@ cuivre.com

Minnesota Andy Olson [email protected]

New England Wes Davis [email protected]

New Jersey Guy Vogt [email protected]

New York Nathan Wright [email protected]

New Zealand Kevin Burt [email protected]

Ohio Barry Gierard [email protected]

Ontario Mike Greer [email protected]

Pacific Northwest Ben Cave [email protected]

Penn-Del Jerry Swink [email protected]

Rocky Mountain Donald Lovato [email protected]

Southern Steve Bostock [email protected]

Texas Steve White [email protected]

UK/Ireland Dealga O’Callaghan [email protected]

Utah Dylan Evans [email protected]

Western Eric Brown [email protected]

Wisconsin J.M. Sparkman [email protected]

UAA Needs Your Help!Every two months these utility arborists provide areport for the Utility Arborist Newsline. Let them knowwhat is going on in your company or in your state.

R E G I O N A L Reports

May–June 2015



and work records for future use.3. Detailed inspections are the

first step to identifying and mitigat-ing hazards. We remove trees thathave been affected by beetle kill toreduce exposure to hazardous situa-tions and potential fire. We also en-force clearance specifications toensure trees are maintained at ap-propriate distances to hold a fullcycle and have an interim programto address faster growing trees thatdo not hold a full cycle. Using me-chanical equipment to increase pro-ductivity and reduce exposure byclearing more miles of line is an im-portant tool to try and keep ahead ofthe hazards as they develop.

4. Working with federal agenciescan slow work down due to environ-mental and cultural concerns, someother examples are: seasonal accessconcerns, restricted timeframes al-lowed to work, work restrictions dueto sensitive areas, fire season re-strictions, private property owner

resistance, geographical challenges,and resource demands. Terrain andaccess issues can slow productionand limit the ability to use mechani-cal equipment, which sows produc-tion. Seasonal work restrictions canmake the timeframe allowed to com-plete work fairly short and difficultto get much work done. Work re-strictions due to sensitive areas cancreate a challenge to complete nec-essary work while protecting thesensitive resource. Oftentimes, ex-tensive studies and mitigation meas-ures are necessary to work in theseareas. Fire restrictions and necessarywaivers to complete work during pe-riods of fire danger can delay workand only allow crews to work certaintimes of the day with mandatory firewatches at the end of each day. Pri-vate property owner resistance canbe challenging and can slow workdown. Geographical challenges dueto a large service territory are chal-lenging to ensure we get to all areas

and inspect regularly to mitigatehazards. Resource demands andpulling off of regular cycle work tomitigate hazards can stress our re-sources.

5. Inspectors, tree crews, me-chanical equipment, funding, prop-erty owner relations, knowledge ofareas that are prone to beetle killand high-fire danger, knowledge oflaws, sensitive area restrictions andfire restrictions, permits and rela-tionships with federal agencies forwork approvals and waivers, andfirefighting equipment and trainingto be able to use it.

� WesternBy Eric BrownResponse by Mike Neal, APS

1. One of the major risks to APS iscatastrophic wild land fires. This canbe the result of wild land fires dam-aging our facilities or being the igni-tion source.

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R E G I O N A L Reports102780 UAN_MayJune Booklet.qxp_Layout 1 4/21/15 8:41 AM Page 36

May–June 2015

Townsend Tree Service provides specialty services to investor-owned electric utilities; municipal and rural electric cooperatives; oil and gas pipeline companies; and, state DOTs. We specialize in services

critical to the proper maintenance of electric power lines, communications lines, pipelines and roadways.

Key services include:

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2. We have a funding agreement from management toget the distribution system on cycle. The goal is to havethe system on cycle by the end of 2016. We currently have55 of 921 overhead feeders off-cycle and by the end of2015, there will be only 10 feeders off-cycle. APS hasnever had a formal combustible free space pole clearingprogram on subject poles that have the potential to spark—such as switches, transformers, fuses, etc. This programstarted this year. APS has developed excellent relationshipswith Fire Incident Command (IC) teams for when wildfiresthreaten our facilities. APS is part of the IC team. Lastyear, during the slide fire north of Sedona Arizona, APSteams were allowed to do recon on damage to the powerlines, mobilize restoration, and utilize a helicopter to de-liver replacement poles during an active fire event.

3. APS is in process of hiring a Fire Specialist to overseethe fire mitigation program. In addition, APS is utilizingdata derived from the West-Wide Fire Risk Assessment todetermine high-risk feeders. Furthermore, APS is deployinghigh-impedance fault detection technology and Current-Limiting Dropout Fuse or ELF fuses in high fire risk areas.

4. The biggest roadblock is time and access approvalauthority to clear vegetation on federal lands. The abilityto identify these hazards and mitigate them before an in-cident happens.

5. The resources needed are long-term funding and per-sonnel to complete the work plan. Management is support-ing these programs.

� Pacific Northwest* *The following is an extra report about the ISA 2014Annual Training Conference (ATC) that took place inVancouver, Washington.By Ben Cave

First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge the individu-als who contributed their time and energy into a very solidutility track this year. From all the individuals who helpedselect and lead the field discussions on IVM to the utilitytrack conference speakers, it was truly a team effort bring-ing this together. It pleased me to hear the table discussionsregarding the increased utility focus at the ATC, which had

been missing from the previous couple conferences.We had a great planning committee who were very pas-

sionate about our trade and areas of focus, which was ledby our program chair, Micki McNaughton. Simply put—wecouldn’t be steered wrong. She coordinated a fantastic con-ference and had a full-time job trying to keep us on task.Once again, the highlight for me at the ATC was networkingwith the utility and contractor representatives about newwork procedures, safety innovations, tools, contractingstrategies, mechanical equipment, and industry trends.

We should be proud of the achievements and progres-sion we’ve seen in our industry, especially the ones per-taining to worker safety and environmentalstewardship—two key components to any successful UVMprogram. We have an vast array of knowledge and experi-ence within the UAA community and I’m thankful to thosewho share these experiences and knowledge with us—fos-tering not only insight to the future of UVM/IVM, but alsothe ability to reflect on how far we’ve come throughoutour careers.

Without the leaders and speakers at conferences, suchas the UAA regional or the ISA-ATC, we wouldn’t be ableto share the innovations and successes of our programsnearly as easily. I’ve been asked to chair the utility trackagain for the 2015 PNW-ATC being held in Bend, OR onSeptember 20–23. Be sure to mark your calendars. If any-one has subject matter they’d like to put forward, for ei-ther the field day or speaker sessions, please feel free tocontact me at [email protected] (250-260-7307). Ilook forward to seeing you there.

(Top left) Fire team using APS ROW for burnout operation; (top right)preventative maintenance to reduce risk of damage from wildlandfire; (right) wildfire damage from the Cave Creek Complex fire.


ECI’s right-of-way vegetation management program assessments, standards development, and professional contract foresters provide cost-effective improvements in reliability, safety and customer satisfaction. We have successfully worked with hundreds of electric utility clients across North America and the United Kingdom since 1972 to keep communities powered.

www.eci-consulting.com 800.919.9274

AN EXPERT APPROACH TO OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE.

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UTILITY ARBORIST ASSOCIATIONA Professional Affiliation of theInternational Society of Arboriculture

P.O. BOX 3129, CHAMPAIGN, IL 61826-3129

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDChampaign, ILPermit No. 328


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