NSTAR Continues Oak Hill Clearing, Will Meet with Selectmen

Representatives from NSTAR will be in Wayland Monday afternoon to meet with selectmen about "the implementation of vegetation maintenance on its electric transmission right of way at Oak Hill Road and Meadowview Road."

A press release from the Town of Wayland invites residents to attend the hearing, which is scheduled for June 4 at 2 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room at .

The hearing comes after outcry from local residents and a letter from state representatives, including Rep. Tom Conroy (D-Wayland), urging NSTAR to better communicate the reasons behind the clearing of its right-of-way that is, at points, 250 feet wide and runs through both wetlands and residential neighborhoods.

In the letter to NSTAR, state officials made six requests:

1. That local officials, not just abutters, be notified when such clearing is to occur.

2. The notification include information regarding "how and why" the vegetation maintenance activities differ from previous action.

3. Notification should clearly explain "what risks are being mitigated by this activity and whether such risks have led to lost power in Massachusetts in the past"; "the impetus behind the new, more robust vegetation maintenance plan"; why the clearing focuses on transmission lines, rather than distribution lines where the most tree damage occurs; and "What Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulation has changed."

4. Notification "may merit more than a written notification left on a door handle or even a potential conversation with an NSTAR representative." (The letter acknowledges that NSTAR did send a representative door-to-door in this case). A public meeting could be in order.

5. "Flexibility and restoration" should be exercised so that homeowners' concerns can be heard and accommodated as much as possible. NSTAR officials are asked to meet with the planning boards of affected towns to develop a "native plant, sustainable landscape program for the continuing use and maintenance of the ROW [right-of-way] that meets the requirements of the electrical easement without the necessity for using chemical defoliants."

6. Homeowners whose property abuts the right-of-way should not assume any liability for potential "accidents stemming from the removal of trees and the residual tree stumps that remain."

NSTAR spokesman Mike Durand said the utility will continue with the clearing project as scheduled, with plans to complete this particular section running from Framingham and into Sudbury by mid-June.

"This project is too important to the reliability of electric service to slow down or stop,” Durand said.

He said that Monday's meeting with Wayland selectmen would simply allow an NSTAR official to be available "to further explain our program, to answer questions and explain why it’s critical to electric service integrity that this project moves forward.”

NSTAR representatives met with Framingham officials last week. Durand said he isn't aware at this time of plans to meet with Sudbury officials.