Integrated Right of Way (ROW) Vegetation Management

February 28-29, 2024 | Online :: Central Time

0124-vegetation-management

Electric grid and utility systems reliability play a pivotal role in ensuring community safety and well-being. However, threats posed by wildfires, storms, and unchecked vegetation can undermine system resilience. The EUCI Integrated Right of Way Vegetation Management course offers a systematic exploration of transmission Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM), with a focus on meeting regulatory deadlines and standards stipulated by State, Federal, and local authorities. Key takeaways from the course encompass:

• Utilities’ role in championing environmental stewardship along right of ways (ROWs)
• Project planning and forecasting techniques tailored to the realm of vegetation management
• Spectrum of tools within the IVM toolkit to maximize efficiency and effectiveness

This course equips participants with tangible insights that bridge the gap between theoretical discourse and actionable strategies, elevating the understanding of IVM’s pivotal role in ensuring grid resilience and regulatory compliance.

Learning Objectives

• Review the history of Vegetation Management and how we got to where we are
• Identify and explain FERC Standards in Integrated Vegetation Management
• Demonstrate how IVM and sustainability go hand in hand
• Describe techniques to manage right of ways in eco-sensitive areas
• Communicate pollinator health and identify the challenges
• Explain the benefits associated with an ecosystem – based approach to IVM
• Justify the value and necessity of environmental stewardship in the ROW
• Examine the positive and negative effects of herbicides in ROW
• Discuss how technology and data analytics are changing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) and Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) standards

 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 : Central Time

 

Introduction to Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) and Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM)

• History and consequences
  • Northeast blackout
• Importance of vegetation management in the utility industry
  • Bramble and Byrnes multi-decade study
    • SGL 33
  • Rachel Carson/Silent Spring
  • Goodfellow
• Best practices in UVM and IVM
• Environmental and safety considerations

Regulatory Framework and Best Practices

• Understanding regulatory requirements for vegetation management
  • FERC
  • NERC
  • RM-43 (MD)
• Compliance and reporting obligations

Planning and Strategy Development

• Developing a vegetation management plan
  • Objectives
  • What’s out there?
    • Tree/Shrub
    • Compatible vs. incompatible
      • Is it a weed? Is it native or invasive?
        • Does it matter?
        • Seed bank
      • Indicator Status – what are the plants telling you?
      • Location, location, location
      • How to use what’s there to your advantage
  • Property owner buy in
  • IVM for habitat creation
    • Pollinators, turtles, endangered birds, bats, snakes, salamanders, rare plants
    • How ROWs can fulfill habitat requirements of each
    • Specific management examples
    • Assessing risk and prioritizing vegetation management activities
    • Budgeting and resource allocation
• Danger Tree or Hazard Tree
  • What is the difference?
  • How are they identified?
  • Species specific and general indicators
  • Invasive pests

Vegetation Identification and Assessment

• Identifying common vegetation species and their impact on utility infrastructure
• Conducting field assessments and mapping vegetation zones
• Identifying potential risks and hazards

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024 : Central Time

 

Vegetation Control Methods and Techniques

• Chemical control methods (herbicides) and their application
• Mechanical control methods (pruning, trimming, mowing) and their effectiveness
• Integrated approaches to vegetation control
• Equipment and Technology for UVM
  • Selecting the right equipment for specific vegetation management tasks
  • Emerging technologies in UVM and their benefits
• Developing monitoring protocols for vegetation management effectiveness
• Tracking and measuring key performance indicators
• Continuous improvement strategies

Contractor Management and Collaboration

• Managing and working with vegetation management contractors
• Collaborating with stakeholders and local communities

Safety and Risk Management

• Identifying and mitigating safety risks associated with UVM activities
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
• Incident reporting and investigation

Emerging Trends in Integrated Vegetation Management LiDAR, GIS, and other technologies

• Project management tools
• Wildfire mitigation

Ron Muir Jr, Transmission Vegetation Management Operations Supervisor

Ron Muir has over 30 years of vegetation management experience. He has worked for a large investor-owned utility since 2012, serving in various roles in transmission vegetation management. Ron currently acts as a Supervisor for Transmission Vegetation Management for rights of ways in a 4-state area in the mid-Atlantic region. He oversees vegetation management activities on over 1,400 miles of right of way, collaborating with in-house forestry specialists and various contractors. Prior to his current position, Ron worked for various utility tree contractors in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore Metro areas. During that time, he refined his utility knowledge while assisting private contractors and municipalities as needed with tree work near the utility lines. Additionally, Ron holds various certifications and licenses relevant to our industry. 

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Integrated Right of Way (ROW) Vegetation Management

February 28-29, 2024 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before January 14, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.0 CEUs for this event.

Requirements for a Successful Completion of Program

Participants must login each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

This program will use PowerPoint presentations and group discussions, as well as active participation.

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 11.0
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

• Foresters
• Vegetation Project Management
• Plant Operators
• Vegetation Management
• Right of Way Inspectors and Linemen
• Transmission project managers  
• Regulators and regulator staff  
• Ecologists
• Environmental Consultants