Health inspector briefs board on 2025 Eversource vegetation plan for ROW 346 in Yarmouth

Carl Lawson, hazardous waste inspector with the Yarmouth Health Department, told the Board of Health on May 19 that Eversource submitted a 2025 Yearly Operational Plan for vegetation control on electric right-of-way 346 and that Yarmouth is included in the plan. Lawson said the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is the state authority that regulates pesticide use and that the state process includes a public comment opportunity on the operational plan.

Lawson described ROW 346 as the northerly transmission corridor that crosses Willow Street north of Summer Street and Union Street near the former water department at 102 Union Street; he said it contains larger steel transmission structures rather than smaller wooden poles. The YOP covers work planned between June 1 and Oct. 18 and is an integrated pest-management plan, Lawson said, noting that treatment combines mechanical cutting and mowing with selective pesticide use.

Lawson explained that state rules define sensitive areas with “no-spray” and “limited-spray” designations. He said a no-spray zone includes the area within 50 feet of a designated private well and that public water-supply wells carry larger setbacks. He summarized the YOP goals as keeping vegetation a safe distance from power lines, maintaining safe access for crews and removing tall, poisonous or invasive species while promoting low-growing plant communities that crowd out taller species.

Lawson recalled earlier correspondence: the town submitted two letters last year (dated June 7 and June 18) and Eversource replied only to the June 7 letter. He said Eversource had not replied to the Board’s second letter, which raised wildlife-protection concerns and questioned the timing of pesticide application. Lawson presented a draft 2025 Board of Health comment letter in the meeting packet and asked the board for direction; he said he would submit a revised letter reiterating the Board’s wildlife and timing concerns and noting that Eversource had not answered them last year.

Lawson also described efforts to identify private wells near the right-of-way. He said Eversource had provided its own list of wells but did not disclose how that list was compiled; using the town geographic information system, Lawson said he measured and added several potential private well sites to Eversource’s list. He said the town’s water department is searching for abandonment records for wells now on town water, and that, until the water-department records are confirmed, the Board’s draft letter leaves the full list in place because improperly capped wells could provide a pathway to groundwater.

The Board and staff discussed pursuing stronger language asking for a formal response from Eversource on wildlife protection and application timing; Lawson said he could send an amended letter and would submit it on the Board’s behalf if they approved. No Board vote was taken during the May 19 meeting; Lawson requested instruction on changes to the draft letter and said he would file it with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources under the public comment process.