New England Power's consultants presented a right-of-way maintenance and asset condition refurbishment project to the Southborough Conservation Commission and the commission voted to continue the matter to a later hearing for additional documentation, including a MassDEP file number and clearer erosion-control and restoration details.

The proposal covers pole replacements, reconductoring and vegetation management along the utility corridor that runs to the Sudbury Reservoir area. The applicant said the work will include short-term access-road improvements, selective grading, and the use of temporary construction mats to protect wetland soils where heavy equipment is required.

Matt Kelly, representing Epsilon Associates on behalf of New England Power, said the project replaces about 43 structures in the commission's jurisdictional area and that most pole replacements are on Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) property; the company will seek a temporary access permit from DCR. He estimated work would start in December and be completed by July 2026, and that forestry/vegetation work and access construction are often sequenced together. Andrew (identified in the meeting as an environmental staffer for New England Power) said construction mats would be used to distribute equipment weight and that mats could remain in place for roughly six to seven months; the company will provide post-construction monitoring and in-situ restoration.

Commission members pressed for specifics on erosion- and sediment-control measures, restoration protocols after mats are removed, the sequencing of work during spring thaw, and the presence of an environmental guidance manual cited in the filing (EG303). Staff later confirmed that an EG303 manual was included with the notice of intent submission as an attachment and that more detailed site-by-site erosion-control plans and monitoring commitments would be expected before the commission issues any order of conditions.

Commissioners also requested that the applicant provide detailed restoration commitments for any matted or graded areas, and identified concerns about past tree-removal work in the aqueduct corridor that had left ruts. The applicant said mats, weekly environmental monitoring, and standard BMPs (straw wattles, silt fence, water bars, temporary stone stabilization and mulching/seeding) would be used. The commission voted to continue the hearing to the next meeting to allow the filing of the MassDEP number and to give staff and peer reviewers time to examine the erosion-control and restoration documentation.

The commission recorded the continuance vote as in favor and will schedule the matter again after the DEP file number and requested details are provided.