Robin Furrer, Vice President, Transmission Field Services: I'm Robin Furrer, vice president
Robin Furrer, Vice President, Transmission Field Services: I'm Robin Furrer, vice president

for transmission field services at the Bonneville Power Administration. Since June of 2007,
for transmission field services at the Bonneville Power Administration. Since June of 2007,

BPA has been working to meet new mandatory vegetation management standards issued by
BPA has been working to meet new mandatory vegetation management standards issued by

the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to ensure that transmission of electricity
the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to ensure that transmission of electricity

to your local utility is not disrupted by trees or high brush. In many cases, meeting
to your local utility is not disrupted by trees or high brush. In many cases, meeting

this standard means we must remove trees that grow in and around the rights of way along
this standard means we must remove trees that grow in and around the rights of way along

which are power lines run.
which are power lines run.

But meeting these standards is not the only challenge trees and high pressure present.
But meeting these standards is not the only challenge trees and high pressure present.

As you’ll see in this video, trees and power can be a dangerous and sometimes lethal combination.
As you’ll see in this video, trees and power can be a dangerous and sometimes lethal combination.

Removing these dangers trees is also about ensuring your safety and the well being of
Removing these dangers trees is also about ensuring your safety and the well being of

your property. It’s also about ensuring that trees and other vegetation around power
your property. It’s also about ensuring that trees and other vegetation around power

lines don’t cause outages that leave critical public safety functions without power. In
lines don’t cause outages that leave critical public safety functions without power. In

the end, we hope this video provides you with a better understanding of our vegetation management
the end, we hope this video provides you with a better understanding of our vegetation management

program and the methods we are using to meet the challenges presented by trees and high
program and the methods we are using to meet the challenges presented by trees and high

brush around high voltage power lines.
brush around high voltage power lines.

Doug Johnson, Public Affairs Specialist: The power lines that BPA uses to transmit electricity
Doug Johnson, Public Affairs Specialist: The power lines that BPA uses to transmit electricity

to customers throughout the Northwest are un-insulated braided aluminum. Now when these
to customers throughout the Northwest are un-insulated braided aluminum. Now when these

lines get incredibly hot because the temperature is between 90 and 100 degrees outside, they
lines get incredibly hot because the temperature is between 90 and 100 degrees outside, they

can sag down a great deal. When you couple that with the fact that there’s a lot of
can sag down a great deal. When you couple that with the fact that there’s a lot of

high vegetation and tall trees in this area, you have a recipe for disaster —because
high vegetation and tall trees in this area, you have a recipe for disaster —because

these trees can touch these lines. And even if they don’t, the power can leave these
these trees can touch these lines. And even if they don’t, the power can leave these

lines can go into a tree or a piece of high brush if it gets close enough. Now when you
lines can go into a tree or a piece of high brush if it gets close enough. Now when you

consider the fact that the electricity that it takes to light a ten watt bulb is enough
consider the fact that the electricity that it takes to light a ten watt bulb is enough

to kill you, you can only imagine what happens when the electricity leaves these lines and
to kill you, you can only imagine what happens when the electricity leaves these lines and

gets into a tree. Anything along the path or around this tree for that electricity get
gets into a tree. Anything along the path or around this tree for that electricity get

into –humans, livestock and pets – can be subject to serious injury or death if this
into –humans, livestock and pets – can be subject to serious injury or death if this

occurs.
occurs.

(Video from tree-contact incidents in the Northwest)
(Video from tree-contact incidents in the Northwest)

(Graphic: Why keep the rights of way clear? To maintain reliability; ensure public safety
(Graphic: Why keep the rights of way clear? To maintain reliability; ensure public safety

and prevent damage to land and property)
and prevent damage to land and property)

Ben Tilley, Natural Resource Specialist: Electrical current is always looking for a path to ground.
Ben Tilley, Natural Resource Specialist: Electrical current is always looking for a path to ground.

And it will use any path it can to get there. Trees and other objects tend to be the most
And it will use any path it can to get there. Trees and other objects tend to be the most

common paths that electricity uses to get to ground. A tree does not have to actually
common paths that electricity uses to get to ground. A tree does not have to actually

touch the conductor to find a path to ground. It can actually jump or flash over to that
touch the conductor to find a path to ground. It can actually jump or flash over to that

piece of vegetation or other object and make its way to ground through that path. Once
piece of vegetation or other object and make its way to ground through that path. Once

the electrical current gets to ground, the issue we have at that point we call step and
the electrical current gets to ground, the issue we have at that point we call step and

touch potential. If you can imagine throwing a rock into a still pond and watching the
touch potential. If you can imagine throwing a rock into a still pond and watching the

ripples that result from that rock hitting the pond; electrical current acts in the same
ripples that result from that rock hitting the pond; electrical current acts in the same

manner across the ground. And anything that’s in that path or in that rippled area, a house,
manner across the ground. And anything that’s in that path or in that rippled area, a house,

a human being, an animal, could potentially be exposing themselves to serious injury or
a human being, an animal, could potentially be exposing themselves to serious injury or

even death.
even death.

Doug Johnson: To keep you and your property safe and ensure that we don’t experience
Doug Johnson: To keep you and your property safe and ensure that we don’t experience

unplanned outages because trees and vegetation gets too close to or comes in contact with
unplanned outages because trees and vegetation gets too close to or comes in contact with

power lines, BPA’s determined that there needs to be a 25-foot buffer between power
power lines, BPA’s determined that there needs to be a 25-foot buffer between power

lines and the trees and high brush that grow around those power lines. It’s also important
lines and the trees and high brush that grow around those power lines. It’s also important

to note that that 25-foot buffer needs to be between the maximum that a tree or a piece
to note that that 25-foot buffer needs to be between the maximum that a tree or a piece

of brush or bush can grow up or in to the power lines.
of brush or bush can grow up or in to the power lines.

(Graphic: BPA’s power line safety zone: 25-foot safety zone between power lines and
(Graphic: BPA’s power line safety zone: 25-foot safety zone between power lines and

the mature potential growth of trees and other vegetation)
the mature potential growth of trees and other vegetation)

Doug Johnson: We hope the information presented in this video provides you with a better understanding
Doug Johnson: We hope the information presented in this video provides you with a better understanding

of the dangers that exist when trees and other vegetation get too close to come in contact
of the dangers that exist when trees and other vegetation get too close to come in contact

with high voltage power lines. If you’d like more information or would like to talk
with high voltage power lines. If you’d like more information or would like to talk

to someone from BPA, please contact us.
to someone from BPA, please contact us.

(Text: If you have any questions about our vegetation management program or would like
(Text: If you have any questions about our vegetation management program or would like

to request a BPA Land Use Application, call us at (800) 836-6619. For more details on
to request a BPA Land Use Application, call us at (800) 836-6619. For more details on

BPA rights-of-way and how to stay safe around high-voltage power lines, visit our
BPA rights-of-way and how to stay safe around high-voltage power lines, visit our

Web site at: www.bpa.gov/corporate/pubs).
Web site at: www.bpa.gov/corporate/pubs).