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Stockbridge commissioners plan site visit after hearing on railroad vegetation management and old ties
Summary
Tech Associates presented a railroad vegetation‑management filing under MDAR rules and commissioners agreed to a joint site inspection to locate old railroad ties and review the VMP oversight; the commission will seek railroad coordination (truck and pilot) and continue review at the next meeting.
Tom Lewis of Tech Associates spoke on behalf of the railroad about vegetation management under the rail rights‑of‑way program and the five‑year Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Lewis explained the process: municipalities receive annual operational plans, MDAR oversees herbicide mixes and sampling, and railroads must submit public notifications and provide on‑site oversight when required.
Commissioners used the presentation to revisit longstanding concerns about abandoned railroad ties and other debris along the right‑of‑way that may sit within wetland buffers. Lewis said the first step is to identify the items in the field and confirmed the railroad has historically responded to requests depending on contract and ownership. Commissioners asked staff to schedule an early‑season field visit (before leaf‑out) to check delineation plates and identify any ties. Chuck and other commissioners volunteered to join a site visit.
The commission tentatively scheduled a site inspection for the week of the 19th; staff said they would contact the railroad to request a truck and pilot to accompany the visit. The commission agreed to continue the related hearing until the next meeting and asked Lewis and staff to coordinate logistics and confirm whether the railroad will remove identified debris once documented.
"MDAR actually rides in the truck sometimes and takes samples of the mix," Lewis said, describing state oversight; "they're involved at every step."
