Power Line Right Of Way And Tree Clearing

[embuck]

Hello,
I live in Maryland. My property is split by a high voltage power line right of way. Unfortunately, the house is sited in a very narrow part of the property and is just outside the outer edge of the right of way. When I bought this place, there were lots of small trees, shrubs and topped trees so the lines and towers were obscured.

BGE cut heavily 3 years ago and made an enormous mess alongside the house. Now they're coming back again and the forester said they're taking all the trees from the right of way *plus* they're cutting trees from my property.

I've complained to the county executive's office. They're having someone from that office meet with me and a PR person from BGE to "discuss" what BGE will do.

I was also just informed that BGE will have some documents they want me to sign. I suspect this is going to be something saying I'll take some small sum of money for the trees.

My problem is, I want to keep the trees, and I really feel this ugly clearing has lowered the value of my property.

Can anyone advise me on what I might be asked to sign, and what recourse I have, if any?

Thank you.

[Happy Trails]

No one here will know what they are going to try and get you to sign.

Read it carefully, and don't sign it if you don't agree with it. If you're not sure of the wording, tell them you won't sign it until you have an attorney look it over first.

[embuck]

Thank you. I wasn't sure if there was anything semi-standard.

Any thoughts on what rights the landowner has when the utility wants to remove trees that are on the landowner's property, not the utility right of way? The forester is saying he's taking trees (they're mostly quite large) from my land.

[LandSurveyor]

Thank you. I wasn't sure if there was anything semi-standard.

Any thoughts on what rights the landowner has when the utility wants to remove trees that are on the landowner's property, not the utility right of way? The forester is saying he's taking trees (they're mostly quite large) from my land.

I recommend that you read the terms of the original easement. It may or may not give the power company the right to come on your property (off the easement). You also need to work out in advance the actual location of the easement. A forester is just guessing.

[Happy Trails]

If you are 100% postitive that the trees they want to remove are on your property only, then I would question why they want to remove them.

I can only make a guess that these large trees may be encroaching the ROW. Generally, the people that have a ROW can trim trees that are overhanging or creeping into the ROW (whether it be branches or tree roots). However, if the trees are so large that the trimming may ultimately kill the tree, that would be a problem, so that may be the reason they want to work something out with you.

[embuck]

If I understand the title correctly, it gives the power company fairly broad authority to take what they think might pose a hazard. That very broad discretion is part of the problem. It seems like the forester can point to most of the trees in front of my house and say they're posing a hazard.

I also think I made him angry by questioning him over the years, and he's threatening to take more from my property than he is elsewhere along the line. The corridor looks cut in around my house. It's his opinion of what needs to come down, and he's not necessarily objective.

[Happy Trails]

Perhaps consider hiring an arborist if you believe the forester is not being fair. If the trees that are in question of being a hazard to the ROW, it may be able to be dealt with in another way.