MERTT is composed of representatives from the Public Service Commision, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, four investor-
owned utilities, Allegheny Power, BGE, Delmarva Power (Connectiv), Pepco Energy Services, and two co-ops, Choptank Electric and SMECO.
MERTT has partnered with the US Forest Service, the US National Arboretum, the University of Maryland - Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, the DC Urban Forestry Administration and the Maryland State Highway Administration.
MERTT HISTORY:
In October 1999, after two significant bad weather events the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) began an investigation into the preparedness of Maryland utilities to respond to major outages. As a result, the Commission directed electric utilities and telephone companies, staff, and other interested parties to work with the Maryland DNR to develop recommendations to the State's policies and regulations to improve utility tree trimming and maintenance programs within utility rights-of-way. The Commission also directed the parties to evaluate the need for appropriate regulations with regard to tree trimming on private property.
As a result of the order, the Tree Trimming Working Group was formed and the Maryland Electric Reliability Tree Trimming Council (MERTT) established. The Council comprised of representatives from the PSC, DNR, Allegheny power, BGE, Conectiv, PEPCO, two co-ops Choptank Electric, SMECO and the Maryland Department of Planning. The MERTT Council is committed to keeping state government and electric utilities working cooperatively to address environmental and electric reliability concerns. The Working Group has made reports to the Commission addressing the need for DNR and utilities to work together in the implementation of utility tree trimming programs with DNR programs and policy.
The three major areas of focus have been:
1. Conducting statewide training in an effort to establish a common ground for tree trimming standards and procedures
2. Evaluation of adoption of Integrated Vegetation Management (MVS) for controlling incompatible woody vegetation in a rights-of-ways
3. Modifying planting specifications to ensure appropriate tree species are planted beneath utility lines.
The MERTT Council continues to provide a valuable forum to gather ideas for recommended modification to the States policies and regulations to improve tree trimming and vegetation maintenance programs.
CORE PROJECT TEAM:
Sandi Patty, MD DNR Transmission Power Plant Research Program
MIke Galvin, MD DNR Forest Service, Urban Forestry Supervisor
John Hammond, ARS, FNPRU, Floral Nursery Plants Research Unit, USNA
Sue Bentz, ARS, USNA US National Arboretum
Dr. Marla McIntosh, University of Maryland, Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture
Dr. Joe Sullivan, University of Maryland, Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture
Donna Murphy, USDA, FS Mid-Atlantic Center for Urban and Community Forestry
Scott Aker, ARS, USNA, US National Arboretum
Dan Landry, PEPCO, Forester
Nathan McElroy, PEPCO, Forester
Bill Reese, Baltimore Gas and Electric
Stephen Genua, PEPCO, Forester
Dan Davis, Baltimore Gas and Electric
Bonnie Appleton, Viginia Tech. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Henry Gerhold, Penn State School of Forest Resources
Monica Lear PhD, D.C Urban Forestry Administration
The project is administered by the Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development Council, Hagerstown, Maryland. http://users.erols.com/wmarylandrcd/