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Conservation commission approves MBTA right‑of‑way vegetation maps; limited herbicide plan cleared
Summary
The commission issued a positive-2 determination to confirm MBTA right-of-way mapping and a negative-3 determination for the City of Lowell/Keyolus vegetation management plan for the commuter rail right-of-way, allowing limited roadbed herbicide applications with mapped sensitive-area restrictions.
The Lowell Conservation Commission granted two determinations that allow vegetation management along the MBTA commuter rail right-of-way after hearing a five‑year map confirmation and operations overview on behalf of Keyolus/contractor representatives.
Matt Donovan, representing Keyolus (contractor), told the commission the RDA is filed every five years to confirm mapping used to limit chemical treatments and to inform submission of a vegetation-management plan to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. “This RDA is submitted to your commission every 5 years and is to confirm the accuracy of the maps used for herbicide for, vegetation management along the commuter rail right of way,” Donovan said.
Why it matters: The plan authorizes two annual chemical applications—one in late spring (May–June) and one in late summer (August–September)—targeting the roadbed and, in a separate brush program, adjacent shoulders. Donovan said the roadbed application is applied from a spray truck running on the track with nozzles that can be shut off as needed; the shoulder spray reaches up to 12 feet from the track centerline. The program uses materials from the Department of Agricultural Resources’ approved roster for rights-of-way.
Sensitive areas and restrictions: Donovan explained the maps identify blue and yellow zones where brush treatments are restricted; yellow zones will never receive shoulder treatments and may receive only roadbed application, while dark-blue DEP/water-supply zones (not present in Lowell) have different intervals. The commission approved a positive-2 determination to confirm mapping and a negative-3 determination for the described work within the commission’s jurisdiction.
Commission action: A commissioner moved to issue the positive-2 mapping determination and a negative-3 determination on the project; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The applicant said yearly operational plans will continue to be sent to the commission by certified mail and that certified applicators will be accompanied by environmental monitors who will reference the maps during applications.
The determinations allow Keyolus and its contractors to proceed with the limited roadbed herbicide program subject to the mapped restrictions and ongoing annual notice to the commission.
