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Southborough commission approves CSX 2025–2029 vegetation plan RDA with conditions
Summary
The Southborough Conservation Commission voted to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability for CSX Transportation’s request for a railroad-right‑of‑way vegetation management plan, conditioned on the applicant’s spray restrictions and notification to town staff.
The Southborough Conservation Commission voted Thursday to approve a request for determination of applicability from CSX Transportation for its 2025–2029 vegetation management plan along the CSX railway through town.
Kip Callahan, an engineer with VHB representing CSX, told the commission the company uses a low‑pressure boom on a hi-rail vehicle to apply herbicide across an approximately 24‑foot spray swath centered on the track. He said state pesticide rules (333 CMR 11) and the Wetlands Protection Act (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, § 40) prohibit spraying within 10 feet of wetlands and impose other restrictions for drinking‑water supply areas.
The commission’s agent and peer reviewer had requested plans and mitigation measures; Callahan said CSX field‑verified spray zones with high‑precision GPS, painted rail markings to show start/stop of restricted areas, and identified no‑spray zones near wells and stream crossings. Commissioner Joe (staff agent) confirmed he had not yet completed a detailed review but said the application as presented addressed the key delineation concerns.
Commission members discussed options for verifying resource areas without an in‑person site visit on the tracks. Callahan said the company verifies spray zones in the field and that paint markings on ties mark restriction boundaries. The commission asked that the agent be notified prior to spraying so staff can monitor the work and, if needed, inspect the marked areas in the spring.
After no members of the public rose to speak, a motion to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability “conditioned as described by the applicant” passed on a roll call vote. The commission recorded unanimous yes votes in favor. The commission directed staff to provide the applicant with conditions requiring pre‑work notification to the conservation agent and adherence to the no‑spray and limited‑spray zones shown on the submitted plans.
The commission asked the applicant to provide final plan sheets and to confirm the schedule before spraying begins so town staff can be notified and monitor compliance. Callahan said CSX would supply the agreed materials by the coming Monday.
