Tennessee Valley Authority

(PESP Partner since August 1995)

The Tennessee Valley Authority Transmission Power Supply group (TVA) maintains transmission structures, rights-of-way (ROW), substations and switch yards. It voluntarily joined the Pesticides Environmental Stewardship Program to share and gain better information on how to select, apply and manage pesticides it must use for vegetation control.

TVA is particularly interested in promoting Integrated Vegetation Management to help reduce pesticide amounts, toxicity, and exposure to employees, contractors, and the general public. It is necessary to educate the general public, special interest groups, and property owners about alternatives to pesticides or mechanical methods for clearing ROW. Education is especially important because TVA encourages expanded use of partnerships with third party special interests to have them manage ROW on private property easements for wildlife, wildflowers, butterflies, as well as game birds and animals.

The Authority is collaborating with National Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forests to selectively remove tall growing trees on ROW leaving low growing shrubs for neo-tropical migratory birds. TVA also selectively removes competitive invasion species in plant habitat of threatened, endangered, or areas of special concern. It modified seasonal re-clearing methods and timing to enhance endangered species development and expansion on ROWs. A pilot program to plant native shrubs on bare or eroding stream banks and in wetlands that must unavoidably be crossed and have tall trees removed is being expanded. In another pilot program, tree growth regulators are being used to slow growth of scattered tall trees that can reach a mature height that would be a danger to transmission lines and structures on stream banks or in wetlands.

Member Contacts

Tina Broyles, Manager, Transmission Environmental Program
Tennessee Valley Authority
1101 Market St (MR 5K)
Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801
423-751-4594
423-751-4760 (fax)
tibroyles@tva.gov

EPA Liaison to this Member

U.S. EPA/OPP/BPPD
1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW (7511P)
Washington, DC 20460-0001
703-308-8712
703-308-7026 (fax)

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