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Commission approves railroad right‑of‑way delineation renewal after questions about spraying near houses and wetlands
Summary
The commission approved a request to confirm wetland delineations for the Housatonic Railroad’s vegetation management plan renewal after Tom Lewis (Tech Associates) described spray controls and no‑spray zones; a resident complained about drainage and ditching but commissioners approved the delineation with one member opposing.
The Lee Conservation Commission voted on June 17 to approve the request for confirmation of wetland delineations associated with the railroad right‑of‑way vegetation‑management plan renewal. Tom Lewis of Tech Associates presented the delineation on behalf of the Housatonic Railroad and explained the work required to renew the railroad’s vegetation plan and reestablish plate markers lost during recent state track work.
Lewis described operational limits for herbicide application: crews constrain spray to the ballasted trackbed (roughly 10 feet either side of center line) and identify and mark no‑spray areas at stream crossings and bridges. "You can spray no closer than 10 ft to wetland resource areas," Lewis said. He also said when approaching a no‑spray zone operators shut off booms and the truck’s trough swings underneath to catch potential drips.
Residents asked whether spraying occurs within 100 feet of houses and requested to see maps that identify where no‑spray rules apply in Lee. One resident also raised a complaint that railroad ditching had increased drainage onto their property; Lewis said the ditching is not part of this application and that scheduling of the vegetation work depends on weather and coordination across several towns, estimating mid‑July for remaining work.
A motion to approve the termination of applicability for the railroad right‑of‑way delineation passed; commissioners recorded one opposing vote. The commission asked staff to ensure submitted maps clearly show the no‑spray areas and to follow up on the resident’s drainage concern as appropriate.
