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Commission confirms CSX railroad wetland boundaries, approves spray restrictions map
Summary
The commission issued a positive determination confirming resource area boundaries and approved mapped limited-spray and no-spray zones along a CSX right-of-way through the city, noting operators will use painted track marks, a tablet-based navigation plan and a ride-along to avoid no-spray zones.
The Worcester Conservation Commission on May 19 voted to confirm wetland and stream boundaries for a segment of CSX railroad right-of-way and to accept an updated vegetation-management plan that maps limited-spray and no-spray zones along the tracks.
Why it matters: The decision confirms delineated resource area boundaries for the Right-of-Way management plan and formalizes spray restrictions that govern herbicide application adjacent to wetlands and streams under state pesticide rules and local wetland protections.
What CSX presented: A consultant described marking tracks with oil-based paint to indicate zones, adding a limited one-year spray zone (buffer zone) and creating no-spray zones where buffers overlap culverts and sensitive watercourses. The operator will use a tablet with mapped zones and a ride-along crew member to warn the operator; application speed was described as about 10 miles per hour, allowing time to respond and shut off spray equipment.
Staff review and vote: Commission staff had asked CSX to update plans to include wetlands that were previously omitted. Staff said the updated plan reflected additional streams and wetlands and the limited spray and no-spray zones. The commission moved to issue a positive determination confirming resource area boundaries as accurate for the purposes of that plan. Commissioners voted in favor of the positive determination.
Implementation and monitoring: CSX must update paint markings for newly identified no-spray areas and continue to use the ride-along and tablet-based navigation to ensure operators stop and change application where required. The positive determination confirms boundaries "pursuant to the Wetlands Protection Act only regarding the proposed" plan depiction; any future changes will require review.
Next steps: CSX will update field markings and continue coordination with city staff to implement the mapped restrictions; the commission retained the authority to review any future plan changes or reported incidents.
