AEP crews to use herbicides during helicopter service this month

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Crews working for Appalachian Power will be taking to the air this month to treat rights of way using herbicides in southern West Virginia. Helicopters are being put into service for the work in less populated areas, according to Appalachian Power officials.

“I think folks are really going to see a difference in reliability for the better — especially in rural areas,” said Phil Moye, spokesperson for AEP.

In populated locations, along with areas near parks, ponds and other sensitive sites like springs, wells, streams, lakes, ponds and orchards, rights of way are maintained using other methods.

Updated information on Appalachian Power’s aerial maintenance program is available by calling 1-800-642-3622. The number is also available to those who want to notify Appalachian Power of those sensitive sites near power lines that should be avoided.

“The company generally makes aerial maintenance applications only in less populated areas where terrain and accessibility make it difficult for ground-based crews to safely clear rights of way,” said John Ertz, senior utility forester for Appalachian Power, in a statement.

“West Virginia is very heavily forested, I mean, those trees grow at a fast rate and so keeping up with it is difficult,” Moye said of the challenges they’re faced with.

Certified contractors that will be doing the work began June 1.

The herbicides that will be used are 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, fosamine, triclopyr, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid and picloram.

Moye said they’ll be telling customers what circuits will be trimmed along with what circuits they will use herbicides on.

“If there’s someone that wants to maintain their own space, like a farm for instance, then they can talk with us and certainly do that,” he said.

All of the herbicides have been registered for use on rights of way by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

The following lines are scheduled for the maintenance work:

BOONE COUNTY

Bim-Sundial 69 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Bim Substation near Bim, running north, passing near Marnie, Prenter, Sylvester, Blue Pennant, Pettus, Eunice and Edwight, and ending at the Sundial Substation near Sundial.

Culloden-Wyoming 765 kV – A transmission line on metal towers beginning at the Wyoming Substation near Clear Fork, running north, passing near Burning Rock, Cyclone, Amherstdale, Lundale and Kelly Mines, and ending at Structure 123A near Sharples.

Hopkins-Danville 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Hopkins Substation, running southeast and ending at US 119.

Hopkins-Turtle Creek 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Hopkins Substation, running southeast and ending at US 119.

Hopkins-Turtle Creek 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Lick Creek, running southwest along US 119, passing Turtle Creek, Mud River and Low Gap, and ending at the Big Ugly exit off US 119. This includes both communication towers along this route.

Hopkins-Woodville 34.5 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Lick Creek Road, running northwest and ending at the communications tower.

Stone Branch-Big Creek 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Big Ugly near the community center, running southwest and ending at the communications tower.

Robinson-Robinson 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Boone Hospital, running northeast and ending at the communications tower near Price Hill.

Boone-Boone 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Ridgeview, running southeast and ending at the communications tower.

Peytona-Drawdy 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Drawdy Mountain, running west and ending at the communications tower.

Hopkins Fork 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning at Hopkins Fork Substation, running north and ending at Fosterville.

Boone-Hopkins 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Boone Substation off of Brushton-Ashford Road in Ashford, running south, passing the mid-point of Ridgeview and ending near Camp Creek Road.

CABELL COUNTY

Amos-Hanging Rock 765 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Amos substation off of Route 817 in Poca, running west, passing the mid-points of Eleanor, Hurricane and Milton, and ending near Route 2 in Lesage.

CLAY COUNTY

Belva-Clendenin 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning in Belva and running northwest to Clendenin, passing through Twenty Mile Creek, Vaughn, Rock Camp Fork, Bob Reedy Fork, Sycamore Creek, Route 16 in Bickmore, Hartland, Elkhurst, Dorfee and Bomont, and ending in Clendenin.

Franks Branch Tap 138 kV – A transmission line beginning near Belva, running southeast and ending at the Vandalia Strip Mine Road.

FAYETTE COUNTY

Belva-Clendenin 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning in Belva and running northwest to Clendenin, passing through Twenty Mile Creek, Vaughn, Rock Camp Fork, Bob Reedy Fork, Sycamore Creek, Route 16 in Bickmore, Hartland, Elkhurst, Dorfee and Bomont, and ending in Clendenin.

Bradley-Kanawha #2 138 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Kanawha River Plant near Glasgow (Kanawha Co.), running southeast, passing Gallagher, east of Standard, McDunn, Powellton, Kincaid and Plum Orchard Lake, and ending at Bradley Substation near Bradley.

Claremont Tap 46 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Thurmond switch off Buery Mountain Road, running southwest and ending at the Claremont Substation near Stone Cliff.

Kanawha-Matt Funk 345 kV – A transmission line on metal towers beginning at the Kanawha River Plant near Glasgow, running southeast, passing near Standard, Powellton and Mahan, and ending at the W.Va. Route 612 crossing near Mossy.

KANAWHA COUNTY

Amos-Kanawha 345 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Amos Substation off of Route 817 in Poca, running south, passing the mid-points of Sissonville and Pinch, and ending near Route 60 in Glasgow.

Belle-Cabin Creek-Marmet 46 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Marmet Substation near Lens Creek Road in Marmet, running south, passing the mid-point of Chesapeake, and ending at Slaughter Creek Road near Cabin Creek.

Belva-Clendenin 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning in Belva and running northwest to Clendenin, passing through Twenty Mile Creek, Vaughn, Rock Camp Fork, Bob Reedy Fork, Sycamore Creek, Route 16 in Bickmore, Hartland, Elkhurst, Dorfee and Bomont, and ending in Clendenin.

Bradley-Kanawha #2 138 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Kanawha River Plant near Glasgow (Kanawha Co.), running southeast, passing Gallagher, east of Standard, McDunn, Powellton, Kincaid and Plum Orchard Lake, and ending at Bradley Substation near Bradley.

Cabin Creek-Kanawha #2 138 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning near the Cabin Creek Substation near Chelyan, running northeast, passing near Crown Hill and ending at the Kanawha River substation near Glasgow.

Cabin Creek-Toms Fork (Gallagher Spur) 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning near Rhonda Substation near Rhonda, running east and ending at the Gallagher Substation near Gallagher.

Carbondale-London 46 kV – A transmission line near London, running east and passing near Dunn Hollow and Smithers, and ending at the Carbondale Substation near Carbondale.

Kanawha-Matt Funk 345 kV – A transmission line on metal towers beginning at the Kanawha River Plant near Glasgow, running southeast, passing near Standard, Powellton and Mahan, and ending at the W.Va. Route 612 crossing near Mossy.

LINCOLN COUNTY

Midkiff-West Huntington 138 kV – A transmission line on wooden poles beginning at the Tri-State Substation off of Route 75 in Kenova and running south, passing the mid-points of Lavalette and East Lynn, and ending near the town of Rockville on Route 10.

LOGAN COUNTY

Culloden-Wyoming 765 kV – A transmission line on metal towers beginning at the Wyoming Substation near Clear Fork, running north, passing near Burning Rock, Cyclone, Amherstdale, Lundale and Kelly Mines, and ending at Structure 123A near Sharples.

Hopkins-Logan 138 kV – A transmission line beginning at Stone Branch, running southeast and ending at CR. 7 near Rock Lick.

Huff-Wharncliffe 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Wharncliffe Substation near Wharncliffe, running north, passing near Twisted Gun, Gilbert, Verner and Christian, and ending at the Huff Substation near Huff Junction.

Old Pond Tap 138 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Old Pond Substation near Wharton, running north and ending at Bim.

MASON COUNTY

Amos-Hanging Rock 765 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Amos substation off of Route 817 in Poca, running west, passing the mid-points of Eleanor, Hurricane and Milton, and ending near Route 2 in Lesage.

McDOWELL COUNTY

Baileysville-Tazewell 138 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Baileysville Substation near Baileysville, running southwest, passing near Fan Rock, Wolf Pen, Belcher Mountain, Carswell, Northfork and Keystone, and ending at the Switchback Substation near Maybeury. Also included is a tap line on steel towers running to the Carswell Substation near Carswell.

Iaeger-Wharncliffe 46 kV – A transmission line on steel poles beginning at the Wharncliffe Substation near Wharncliffe, running southeast, passing near Turkey Creek, Four Pole (Hardy), Long Pole and Short Pole (Panther), and ending at the Iaeger Substation site near Iaeger. Does not include the 46 kV taps to Hardy and Panther substations.

MINGO COUNTY

Huff-Wharncliffe 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Wharncliffe Substation near Wharncliffe, running north, passing near Twisted Gun, Gilbert, Verner and Christian, and ending at the Huff Substation near Huff Junction.

Iaeger-Wharncliffe 46 kV – A transmission line on steel poles beginning at the Wharncliffe Substation near Wharncliffe, running southeast, passing near Turkey Creek, Four Pole (Hardy), Long Pole and Short Pole (Panther), and ending at the Iaeger Substation site near Iaeger. Does not include the 46 kV taps to Hardy and Panther substations.

Sprigg-Matewan 34.5 kV – A distribution line beginning at the beginning of Warm Hollow, running northeast and ending at the communications tower.

Sprigg-Rawl Sales 12 kV – A distribution line on wood pole structures beginning at Sprigg Substation, running northwest and ending at the Rawl Sales Prep Plant.

Sprigg-Wharncliffe 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Sprigg Substation near Sprigg, running southeast, passing near Matewan, Red Jacket, Thacker, Grapevine, Glen Alum and Bens Creek, and ending at the Wharncliffe Substation near Wharncliffe.

NICHOLAS COUNTY

Belva-Clendenin 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning in Belva and running northwest to Clendenin, passing through Twenty Mile Creek, Vaughn, Rock Camp Fork, Bob Reedy Fork, Sycamore Creek, Route 16 in Bickmore, Hartland, Elkhurst, Dorfee and Bomont, and ending in Clendenin.

Franks Branch Tap 138 kV – A transmission line beginning near Belva, running southeast and ending at the Vandalia Strip Mine Road.

PUTNAM COUNTY

Amos-Hanging Rock 765 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Amos substation off of Route 817 in Poca, running west, passing the mid-points of Eleanor, Hurricane and Milton, and ending near Route 2 in Lesage.

RALEIGH COUNTY

Bim-Sundial 69 kV – A transmission line beginning at the Bim Substation near Bim, running north, passing near Marnie, Prenter, Sylvester, Blue Pennant, Pettus, Eunice and Edwight, and ending at the Sundial Substation near Sundial.

Bradley-Tams Mountain 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles beginning at the Bradley Substation near Bradley, running southwest, passing near Prosperity, Eccles, Shockley and Glen White, and ending at the Tams Mountain Substation on Tams Mountain.

Dameron-Leewood-Sundial 69 kV – A transmission line on steel towers and wood poles beginning at the Dameron Substation near Dameron, running northwest, passing near Workmans Creek, Ameagle, Dorothy, Packsville, Marfork, Pettus and Eunice, and ending at the Sundial Substation near Sundial.

WAYNE COUNTY

Midkiff-West Huntington 138 kV – A transmission line on wooden poles beginning at the Tri-State Substation off of Route 75 in Kenova and running south, passing the mid-points of Lavalette and East Lynn, and ending near the town of Rockville on Route 10.

WYOMING COUNTY

Baileysville-Tazewell 138 kV – A transmission line on steel towers beginning at the Baileysville Substation near Baileysville, running southwest, passing near Fan Rock, Wolf Pen, Belcher Mountain, Carswell, Northfork and Keystone, and ending at the Switchback Substation near Maybeury. Also included is a tap line on steel towers running to the Carswell Substation near Carswell.

Culloden-Wyoming 765 kV – A transmission line on metal towers beginning at the Wyoming Substation near Clear Fork, running north, passing near Burning Rock, Cyclone, Amherstdale, Lundale and Kelly Mines, and ending at Structure 123A near Sharples.





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