For safety and reliability reasons vegetation and large trees must be trimmed or removed from the right-of-way before construction begins. Utility foresters work with construction managers to develop a clearing plan to lessen the impact. Documentation of the environmental impacts, mitigations and all applicable environmental approvals are required before clearing begins.
AEP meets with individual landowners to address specific issues related to marketable timber, firewood, large shade trees and fruit-bearing trees that are in close proximity to homes adjacent to or within the required right-of-way.
A pre-construction meeting provides crews with the project scope, permit and regulatory requirements, siting requirements, special landowner requests or restrictions and responsibility for certain types of permitted work. Regular review meetings are held once construction begins.