Industrial utilities help keep the lights on and ensure that millions of businesses can operate as usual. Even the smallest setback for a construction or repair crew could result in significant delays in the repair time and, thus, further delays in the transport of goods, power outages, or problems with gas, water, and electricity for an entire region. Maintenance workers need to safely and quickly access utility operations sites, and a major barrier could be undergrowth and other untamed vegetation. Vegetation management is critical to prevent outages and to prevent damage to pipelines and other underground utilities. This is where utility vegetation management comes into play.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what utility vegetation management is, why you need it, and how you can get it with quality providers like Lanracorp.
What Is Utility Vegetation Management?
Utility vegetation management refers to the systematic control of plant growth around utility infrastructure, including power lines, pipelines, and railroads.. It is vital for preventing disruptions and ensuring the safety of both the infrastructure and the people working around it. Overgrown vegetation can interfere with daily operations, cause damage to equipment, and even lead to catastrophic failures if not properly managed.
Comprehensive utility vegetation management must be tailored to the unique needs of each site. Some common services include:
- Clearing brush along a railway
- Managing tree growth close to power lines
- Selective herbicide application to ensure a healthy ecosystem
- Planting Native Grasses to help reduce woody tree regrowth
- Mowing grass to improve aesthetics and improve visibility of the utility
- Erosion control and soil restoration above a pipeline
- Tree trimming on Pipeline Easements to allow for Routine Aerial Patrols
- Applying foliar herbicides to woody species
Why Vegetation Management Is Essential
For major utility providers and adjacent enterprises, the need for utility vegetation management can’t be overstated. Here’s why:
Preventing Damage to Infrastructure
Vegetation, if left unchecked, can wreak havoc on utility infrastructure. Overgrown trees and brush can interfere with powerlines, obstruct railway tracks, and even threaten the integrity of underground pipelines. Clearing and maintaining the areas around utility infrastructure is the best way to be proactive and prevent any damage ahead of time. This not only prevents costly damage, but also reduces downtime so that operations can continue to run smoothly without delay.
Enhancing Safety & Reducing Hazards
Safety is a top priority in any industrial setting, and utility vegetation management plays a crucial role in maintaining optimum safety standards. Vegetation that has become overgrown or has not been properly managed can create dangerous conditions for workers and heavy equipment. Without professional vegetation management in the railroad industry, for example, safety issues can quickly arise. Unkempt vegetation can obscure signals, grow over tracks, and create a safety hazard for trains and workers alike. Similarly, vegetation can obscure pathways, limit visibility, and become a fire hazard at a refinery site. The cost of repairing this kind of damage, coupled with safety liabilities, makes proactive vegetation management a necessity. In the pipeline industry, routine aerial patrols are required every two weeks, removal of excessive vegetation on the ground and trimming tree branches is required in order to provide an accurate assessment during aerial patrols.
Meeting Regulatory Compliance
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sets specific guidelines for maintaining vegetation near utilities. In most cases, utility companies are responsible for maintaining safe vegetation conditions near power lines and similar utility infrastructure, even when that infrastructure resides on or crosses over private property. State and local ordinances must also be met. To ensure that your company and workers are complying with all applicable regulations, it is best to outsource utility vegetation management to an experienced provider like Lanracorp.
Lanracorp: Your Partner In Utility Vegetation Management
At Lanracorp, we don’t just manage vegetation—we protect your investment, your workers, your equipment, and the public interest. Our services are comprehensive and wide-ranging, covering everything from standard brush control and tree trimming to herbicide application, landscaping, and excavation on slopes and uneven terrain. We understand the complexities of managing vegetation in industrial settings and are committed to providing services that enhance safety, protect infrastructure, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Vegetation management is a multi-pronged approach that uses various tools, such as herbicides, mechanical means, and specific native grasses, to help reduce the regrowth of unwanted woody vegetation.
Don’t wait for vegetation to become a hazard to your infrastructure. Request a quote for utility vegetation management today!