New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 16 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Chapter I - RULES OF PROCEDURE
Subchapter F - Long-range Electric System Planning
Part 84 - Transmission Facilities Management
Section 84.2 - Long-range right-of-way management plan for electric transmission systems

(a) Each member system of the New York Power Pool, except the Power Authority of the State of New York, shall, by March 31, 1981, submit for review and approval by the New York State Public Service Commission a long-range right-of-way (ROW) management plan for each respective electric transmission system comprised of transmission facilities of 34 kv and above, except where located entirely on public streets or roads. The plan, shall, at a minimum, describe each company's structure and organization for ROW management planning and program operation. The plan, with appropriate maps, charts and text, shall describe the ROW system in general terms, its location, extent, components by voltage class, ROW widths and general conditions. A statement shall be included explaining the rationale for selecting the time frame which the plan encompasses.

(b) The plan shall describe the functions of key positions in ROW management, including provisions and responsibilities for establishing and achieving long-range ROW management goals and annual right-of-way maintenance objectives.

(c) The plan should include a brief history of past and present ROW management policies and practices that would influence future management policies and practices. The management issues that the plan will address should be discussed along with the plan's goals and objectives that are established as a response to the issues.

(d) The plan should describe landowner or land-user notification procedures and restrictions concerning company ROW management plans and practices. The utilities should explain how they receive and handle restrictions and requests which modify management practices and procedures, especially those involving chemical treatments. Procedures for identifying, evaluating, reporting and responding to ROW maintenance problems should be described. Determinations of appropriate ROW treatments and maintenance schedules or cycles should be described, showing their relationship to long-range management goals and more immediate program objectives for both the ROW's as a whole and vegetation in particular.

(e) The plan should list the various ROW management techniques used by the utility and the conditions under which a given mechanical, chemical or other technique is normally considered appropriate. There should be a discussion of the clearance standards sought, costs, effectiveness, environmental impacts, and other relevant concerns associated with use of the techniques. For chemical treatments the section should also include a discussion of combinations of treatment methods and materials, follow-up treatments, and the influence of accessibility, vegetation density, type and height, and other physical factors not described elsewhere.

(f) The approach to preparation of annual maintenance plans and schedules for individual ROW's and the steps to implement them to achieve the long-range plan goals should be discussed. The approaches that are used to determine work force size, type (e.g., company versus contractor) and capability, equipment and materials, and a description of training needs, budgets, specifications for treatments, and methods of program monitoring and evaluation should be included. Examples of forms, reports, records, etc., particularly those for cost accounting, should be provided in the plan or in appendices.

(g) The plan should contain a summary of those ROW management issues that have not yet been resolved and which are included in present or anticipated research activities involving ROW maintenance. Areas of any needed research which have not been undertaken should be briefly described.

(h) A discussion of regulations, licensing and permits should identify any needs there are for such authorizations to conduct ROW management operations.

(i) The plan should describe approximate funding levels that are needed to accomplish annual and multi-year ROW management planning goals. Any strategies involving significant increases in annual or multi-year funding levels that are deemed necessary to advance the achievement of plan goals should be included.

(j) The final section should describe provisions for periodically reviewing, evaluating and revising the long-range plan, and the time interval for such revisions.