CHARLESTON, W.Va., April 22, 2015 – Beginning on or about June 1, Appalachian Power, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), will maintain the rights of way for some power lines in West Virginia by applying herbicides by helicopter.

The company generally makes aerial maintenance applications only in less populated areas where terrain and accessibility make it difficult for ground-based crews to safely clear rights of way, said John Ertz, senior utility forester. Rights of way in populated areas, as well as near parks, ponds and other sensitive areas, are maintained by other means.

Customers with questions about the Appalachian Power’s aerial maintenance program can call a toll-free number, 1-800-642-3622, for information. Customers also can write for information at AEP, Bluefield District, 2507 Washington Street, Bluefield, WV 24701; or Charleston District, P.O. Box 1986, Charleston, WV 25327.

Herbicides used by AEP have been registered for use on rights of way by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDoA), Ertz said. Herbicides to be used are 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, glyphosate, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, fosamine, triclopyr, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid and picloram. Each has been extensively tested by the manufacturer, colleges and governmental and independent research laboratories.

Rigid EPA and WVDoA restrictions and regulations are carefully observed by AEP contractors in applying herbicides. All areas to be treated are visually checked by helicopter pilots in advance to verify the location of any sensitive areas and to ensure that people or domestic animals are not visible in the area to be maintained. All applications are made by contractors who are certified applicators. Questions concerning these herbicides may be addressed to the EPA and the WVDoA.

Right-of-way maintenance agreements between AEP and landowners are available to landowners who prefer to accept responsibility for clearing the right of way crossing their property in lieu of aerial application of herbicides.

The agreement compensates the landowner by an amount equivalent to the cost of aerial herbicide application, provided the work meets AEP’s specifications.

Residents who have questions about the program or who want to alert the company to the location of sensitive areas near power lines, such as springs, wells, streams, lakes, ponds, orchards, crop areas, gardens, pastures, meadows, year-round dwellings, public recreation areas and Christmas tree plantations, should also contact the company. To prevent any misunderstanding about the location of the sensitive areas being reported, the number of the nearest pole or tower should be provided. Numbers are posted on utility poles and on one leg of utility towers.

After the maintenance program begins, a 24-hour telephone service at the above number will provide information daily on locations scheduled for maintenance.

Complaints about possible damage resulting from herbicide applications should be made by contacting AEP at its toll-free number or the above addresses. Complaints also may be directed to the WVDoA, Pesticide Regulatory Programs Unit, which can be reached in Charleston at 304-558-2209.

Lines scheduled for maintenance in West Virginia include: *

BOONE COUNTY

Hewitt–Spruce 12kV–Distribution 12kV – A distribution line starting at Jeffery and heading north crossing the mouth of Six Mile, Big Branch and stopping at Powell Creek.

BOONE AND WYOMING COUNTIES

Baileysville – Skin Fork 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles and steel towers starting at the Baileysville Substation near Baileysville and running in a northeasterly direction passing near Elk Lick Branch, Lynco, Oceana, Kopperston and terminating at the Skin Fork Substation near WV Route 85.

BOONE, WYOMING AND RALEIGH COUNTIES

Skin Fork – Sundial 46 kV – A transmission line on steel towers and wood poles starting at the Sundial Substation near Naoma and running in a southwesterly direction passing near Edwight, Farley’s Branch, Kopperston and terminating at the Skin Fork Substation on Route 85.

BOONE, WYOMING AND LOGAN COUNTIES

Bim Hopkins 69 kV- A transmission line on wood and steel structures starting from Bim substation near Bim and headed in a northwesterly direction traveling through Marthatown, Kohlsaat, Cazy, Jackson, Bob White, West Junction, Bigson, Lanta, Quinland, Uneeda, Foch, Price Hill and terminates at the Hopkins substation located in Hopkins.

Bim Logan Sharples 46 kV– A sub transmission line on wood and steel structures starting from the Bim substation near Bim and heads in both north and south directions with the first section of the circuit headed towards Logan, in a south westerly direction. This section of  the circuit crosses Casey Creek, Sycamore Creek, Poplar Branch, Laurel Fork, Perry Fork, Garland Fork, and into Slag where it continues toward Chambers, Hutchinson, Route 17 and terminates in the Logan substation near Mount Gap.  The northern section of the circuit travels through Star, Spruce Fork, past Clothier and Sodo and into the Sharples substation, which is near Sharples.

Bim-Skinfork 46 kV – A sub transmission line on wood and steel structures starting from Bim substation near Bim and heads in a southerly direction towards Wharton Barrett, Grapevine Branch, Jasper Workman Branch, Rock Lick Road and terminates at the Skinfork 46 kV substation near Route 85 at Bald Knob. 

Bim Sundial 69 kV – A transmission line on wood and steel structures starting in Bim substation, outside of Bim, and traveles in a southeasterly direction. This line crosses Bandy’s Branch, Mudlick Branch, Twilight, James Creek, Lindytown, Edwright, Marshfork and terminates in the Sundial Substation near Sundial.

FAYETTE AND GREENBRIER COUNTIES

Layland-McClung 69 kV- A transmission line on wood towers starting at Layland Substation near Layland and running in an east/northeast direction passing near Crickmer, Meadow Bridge, Danese, Bellwood Rainelle, McRoss, Orient Hill terminating at the McClung substation near Leslie.

FAYETTE AND KANAWHA COUNTIES

Cabin Creek - Tom’s Fork 46 kV- A sub transmission line on steel structures starting at the Cabin Creek substation near Chelyan and running in a southern direction crossing I-64 near Rhonda, passing near Sharon, Miami, Dawes, Ohley, Eskdale terminating at the Tom’s Fork Substation near Leewood.

Scarboro - Tom’s Fork 46 kV - A sub transmission line on wood poles and steel towers starting at Scarboro substation and heading in a north westerly direction traveling through Plum Orchard State Park, Mossy, Mahan, Bernwell and terminating in Leewood substation in Tom’s Fork.

GREENBRIER COUNTY

McRoss – Anjean 34.5 kV – A distribution line on wood poles beginning along Route 20 north of Charmco and proceeding east to Anjean before turning northeast and terminating at Clearco.

LOGAN COUNTY

Sharples–Blair–Distribution 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Monclo Hollow and heading northeast and stopping at Dobra.

Mud Fork–Mud Fork–Distribution 12kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Mud Fork Station and heading southeast crossing State Route 73, then turning west to the Mud Fork Bridge on U.S. 119, then turning southeast, crossing a hill and stopping at Aldridge Branch.

Mud Fork–Holden–Distribution 12kV– A distribution line on wood poles starting at Holden heading southwest along U.S. 119, then splitting and continuing southwest and stopping at Hidden Cove. Also, northeast stopping at the Logan Public Service District water tank, including the Southwestern Regional Jail.

Stone Branch–Crawley–Distribution 12kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Chief Logan State Park and heading south and stopping at Cell Tower.

LOGAN  AND MINGO COUNTIES

Big Sandy – Inez 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures starting at the Big Sandy power plant near Prichard and running in an southerly direction. The transmission line passes the midpoint of Fort Gay and will be terminating near the point of Route 52 near Fort Gay.

Logan - Inez 138 kV – A transmission line on steel structures starting at the Logan substation in Logan and running in a westerly direction. The transmission line passes the midpoint of Dingess and will be terminating near the point of Route 52 near Lovely.

Inez-Sprigg 138 kV - A transmission line on wooden poles starting at the Sprigg substation, off of Route 49 in Matewan and running in a northwest direction. The transmission line passes the midpoint of Rawl. The transmission line will be terminating near the point of Route 52 in Borderland.

McDOWELL COUNTY

Berwind McDowell 34.5 kV – A transmission line on wood poles starting at the Berwind Substation near Berwind and running in a southeasterly direction passing near Valls Creek, Amanote Mine, Hickory Gap and terminating at the McDowell substation near Bishop.

Switchback Crumpler 34.5 kV – A distribution circuit on wood poles starting at Switchback Station and running north terminating at Crumpler Road in Crumpler.

Switchback Jenkin Jones 34.5 kV – A distribution circuit on wood poles starting at Switchback Station running southwesterly direction and terminating at Church Street, near Jenkin Jones. Then picking back up at Harmon Branch Road and continuing towards the southwest and terminating at Abbs Valley Road.

Panther– Panther –Distribution 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Litwar heading northwest crossing Negro Branch, War Branch and stopping at Upper Long Pole.

Panther–Panther–Distribution 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Horse Creek and traveling southwest and stopping at Georges Fork.

Panther–Panther–Distribution 12 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Short Pole and heading southeast and stopping at the top of AEP Cell Tower.

MERCER COUNTY

Minnix Mountain Jenkin Jones 34.5 kV – A distribution circuit on wood poles starting at Minnix Mountain Station and running west and terminating at Wind Mill Gap Road.

MINGO COUNTY

Pigeon Creek–Mate Creek 34.5 kV – A distribution line on wood pole structures beginning at head of Big Muncy and heading southwest and stopping at the head of Mate Creek near Spring Fork.

Pigeon Creek–Mate Creek 34.5 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at the head of Joe’s Creek and heading south over the hill and stopping at Foundation Fork.

RALEIGH COUNTY

Bradley–Tam’s Mountain 138 kV– A transmission line on wood poles starting at Bradley Substation near Bradley and heading in a southwest direction passing near Prosperity and terminating at the Pole Yard substation near Cranberry.

Beckley–Bradley 46 kV- A transmission line on wood poles starting at Bradley substation near Bradley and traveling a southerly direction terminating at the Whitestick substation near Sprague. 

RALEIGH AND FAYETTE COUNTIES

Bradley-Layland #1 69 kV- A transmission line on wood poles starting at Bradley substation near Bradley and running in an easterly direction passing near Piney View, McCreery, Prince, Highland Mountain Road and terminating at the Layland substation near Layland.

Bradley-Layland 2A 69 kV- A transmission line on wood poles starting at the Brooklyn Switching Structure near Brooklyn and running in an southeasterly direction crossing the New River, crossing Buery Mountain, Chestnut Knob and terminating at the Layland substation near Layland.

RALEIGH AND SUMMERS COUNTIES

Kanawha Matt Funk 345 kV – A transmission line on metal towers starting at the WV Route 3 crossing near Shady Spring and running in a southeasterly direction passing near Jumping Branch, Streeter and terminating at the Bluestone River crossing near Nimitz.

RALEIGH AND WYOMING COUNTIES

Baileysville – Kanawha 138 kV – A transmission line on steel towers starting at the Baileysville Substation near Baileysville and running in a northerly direction passing near Oceana, Kopperston and terminating at the Sundial Substation near Naoma

RALEIGH AND WYOMING COUNTIES

Bolt-Trap Hill 138 kV – A transmission line on wood poles starting at the substation near Bolt and running in a northeasterly direction near Bear Fork and crossing Morgan’s Fork Road, then crossing Magna Court and terminating at the Trap Hill substation near Fairdale. 

WAYNE, LINCOLN AND CABELL COUNTIES

Baker-Culloden 765 kV – A transmission line on steel structures starting near the Big Sandy Power plant on Route 52 in Prichard and running in a northeast direction. The transmission line passes the midpoint of Wayne and Salt Rock and terminates near the town of Culloden on Route 60.

Big Sandy – Lavalette 34.5 kV - A transmission line on wooden poles starting at the Big Sandy power plant in near Prichard and running in a northeast direction. The transmission line passes the midpoint of Fort Gay and will be terminating near the point of Route 152 near Wayne.

WYOMING COUNTY

Coal Mountain Tap 46 kV – A transmission line on wood poles starting at the Oceana Substation near Lynco and running in a westerly direction and terminating at the Coal Mountain Substation near Coal Mountain.

Pad Fork – Red Ash – Distribution 34.5 kV – A distribution line on wood poles starting at Little Buffalo heading West over hill crossing U.S Route 52 then turning south and stopping at Upper Muzzle.

Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.

*Note to Editors: If you wish, you may select only the line descriptions that apply to your county. E-mail versions of this release are available upon request.