EQT to Conduct Aerial Spraying of Rights-of-Way as Part of Ongoing Vegetation Control
EQT Corporation will use the aerial application of herbicides to help maintain the rights-of-way (ROW) for some of its gas transmission and gathering lines throughout select counties in West Virginia. The ongoing ROW maintenance program is designed to control the growth of trees, brush, and other vegetation in order to provide uninterrupted, reliable natural gas service; and to allow safe, unobstructed access for crews to inspect, repair and maintain the natural gas pipelines.
The Company will be applying the herbicides in Fayette, Mingo, Lincoln, Wyoming, Boone, Logan, Nicholas, McDowell, Kanawha, Raleigh, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Taylor, and Wetzel counties.
The work will be performed by Industrial Helicopters LLC in accordance with regulations established by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (DOA), with herbicides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State DOA. By law, EQT is required to report that its contractor will be using the following herbicides: Dupont Escort HP, Dow AgroSciences Tordon K or Alligare Triclopyr 3. Any questions about the herbicides should be referred to the WV DOA or to the U.S. EPA.
The program will begin no less than 60 days from the date of this publication and will continue throughout the summer. All persons who are currently registered on the state’s hypersensitive list will receive personal notification in the form of a letter via standard mail before the program begins. EQT will give advance notice before spraying a property to those persons who submit a written request, which must include the name, mailing address, property location, and telephone number of the person asking for notification. Additionally, maps are available for inspection showing the location of rights-of-way to be included in the 2012 vegetation maintenance program.
Subsequent notifications: On a weekly basis, EQT will provide advance notification of the proposed aerial spray program to the commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, and to a media broadcast station serving each county in which the aerial application of herbicides is planned.
To report a potentially sensitive area, submit a comment, or ask questions regarding the herbicide program, please call 1-877-237-0797 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Written correspondence may be sent to:
EQT Corporation Attn: Vegetation Maintenance Program 500 S. Oakmound Road Clarksburg, WV 26301
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