Utility to return to trim trees

PSE&G will resume clear-cutting Feb. 4.

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   WEST AMWELL — PSE&G will return to West Amwell on Feb. 4 to trim trees located in rights of way along Alexauken Creek, Rocktown, Bowne Station and Queen roads as well as Garboski Road in East Amwell Township.
   Trees and vegetation under main power lines within the rights of way will be removed, and overhanging branches will be trimmed, according to township Clerk Lora Olson.
   The township’s Environmental Commission will have the opportunity to review the plan and the detailed maps submitted to West Amwell by PSE&G.
   So far the commission has not received any documents and could not yet comment on the plan, according to Chairwoman Catherine Urbanski.
   Mayor Ron Shapella said he would visit the sites in preparation for the utility’s visit.
   In the meantime, he said, “It looks like areas to be clear-cut have already been clear-cut, and it doesn’t look like there will be much change. At least, I hope not.”
   PSE&G performed similar trimming and cutting in May 2006 along 2.5 miles of Alexauken Creek Road. Some residents complained loudly to the township and PSE&G over what they saw as destruction, and the mayor at the time, Tom Molnar, said the work looked like Hurricane Hugo had swept through.
   ”It was a big shock,” Mayor Shapella said. “One day they had a nice forested area, then the next day they don’t.”
   The township hosted several public meetings in 2006 for residents to discuss the issue with PSE&G representatives. Mayor Shapella said the township would discuss the trimming again with residents if they want to express any concerns.
   ”We’d be happy to if that’s what people want,” he said. “It’s not going to start until Feb. 4 so we have some time.”
   Mayor Shapella said he does not anticipate the same type of “shock” now because of the previous trimming and cutting performed in 2006.
   Since then, communication between West Amwell and the utility has been “much better,” he said.
   Alexauken Creek Road is “still a very beautiful road,” Mayor Shapella said.
   He added, “It’s a beautiful area. Unfortunately, the way the power lines are situated, they run right through the stream bed.”
   The state has deemed Alexauken Creek a Category 1 stream, meaning it deserves the highest level of protection.
   But after Sept. 11, 2001, maintaining security and ensuring service are a priority for the utility.
   ”As we found out, the Board of Public Utilities regulates electric utilities, and the BPU gives a pretty wide berth in determining what they can do,” Mayor Shapella said.
   PSE&G needs to clear the areas below high-voltage lines to maintain the reliability of the system, said spokeswoman Karen Johnson.
   One line carries 500,000 volts, the other 230,000 volts, she added.
   Trimming and clearing also will occur in portions of East Amwell and Lambertville.
   The utility cannot allow trees to come too close to the lines because they could cause outages and fires, especially in the summer when the load is very high, Ms. Johnson said.
   ”The BPU requires us to maintain transmissions in rights of way in a certain way, and we need to comply,” she said.