National Grid eyes tree takedowns in Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – In an effort to improve its service, National Grid may be cutting down public and private trees in town.National Grid Hazard tree Mitigation Program Coordinator Joan Callahan explained the Augmented Clearance for Trees (ACT) Program is designed to reduce electric service outages caused by trees.Callahan said the main concern in town are trees that are along the main line running out of the Franklin Street substation, which services a large number of properties.According to Callahan, the project is being implemented on circuits with a history of outages from trees in several states. She explained when an outage occurs on a main line near a substation the station breaker opens and every customer on that circuit is affected by the outage. She said a recent review of outages over an 18-month period for New England identified more than 3,270 tree caused outages, which affected more than 632,000 customers. Callahan went on to say the 75 percent of tree related outages are due to dead, dying or diseased trees. She said other factors are “weak-wooded” species that fall due to high winds, snow or ice.She said National Grid would not be indiscriminately removing trees along the route, which is more than a mile long but would be looking for high risk trees.She said trees defined as high risk have those with serious disease, decay, splits or cracks. Other trees would merely be trimmed so any branches that could fall would not affect the power lines.Callahan said if a tree on private property needs to be removed or trimmed, a door hanging notice would be left at the home explaining the need to take remedial action and information on how to contact National Grid in regards to the proposed action.Hazard Tree Mitigation Program Manager Mike Meyerdierks, who is a certified arborist, said work would be done by contractors, who are fully insured. Her said the contractors would work closely with Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta and Tree Warden Gene Gardiner on the project.Callahan said once a project has been approved, contractor crews would be assigned to the project. She said if a tree were cut down the stump would be cut as close to the ground as possible and contractors would be responsible for cleanup following the removal.