I am so ANGRY!!!!!!

[Charlotte]

I just realized tonight that our electric company used a herbicide to kill a small tree in the easement under the high voltage transmission lines at the back of our pasture.

It's Sunday night. I can't call them to find out what was used. I will in the morning. Does anyone on here know who regulates the activities of the electric companies regarding their easment rights and obligations?

We keep our pasture mowed like a lawn. this is the only thing but short grass under those lines. The tree is about 7 feet tall with a trunk as big around as my wrist. A redbud. It would be lucky to ever get over 15 feet. No way is it a fire danger to the electric lines WAY above it! The only way it could catch fire is if someone doused it with gasoline and lit a match to it! And the flames still couldn't reach the power lines!

You know our experiences with miniature horse mares and chemicals, both natural and man made. We do everything in our power to protect our broodmares from any enviornmental toxins. No pesticides! No herbicides! No fertilizers! No vaccines or dewormers for God's sake!!!!! NOTHING in the first trimester.

I'm trying to write this really calmly so I don't sound like a raving idiot. I FEEL LIKE A RAVING IDIOT!!!!

Some idiot climbs over the fence and sprays this little tree and all the grass around it with God knows what!!!!!!!!!! It would take 30 seconds max to cut the little thing down with a chain saw for God's sake!

I think I'm hysterical. this must have been done 2 weeks or more ago. I noticed the tree looking a bit sickly for some time now but couldn't really see anything wrong with it. My mares...IN FIRST TRIMESTER....have been out there with that .... POISON!

I can't sue them. There has been no harm done, right? I won't know how bad it might be untill my mares abort or deformed foals are born.

Oh geez

 

[Joanne]

I would find out what they used and contact your veterinarian or poison control and go from there.

 

[pinck43]

Why wouldn't they contact you first? Seems fishy to me. Especially a Redbud. Makes no sense. I would be hot too.

 

[Charlotte]

Poison control center. I hadn't thought of that one. Thanks Joanne

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Charlotte, I'm so sorry!

I'd be madder than a wet hen also! :arg! I wish I had some advice to give you but I don't. I sure hope all your mares are just fine.

 

[coopermini]

Not sure in OK but in many areas you have to register with electric/ public utilities for no spray under power lines. Here you are then responsible for keeping right of way clear if you do not want them to spray. Most places hire subcontractors to do the spraying. Any herbicide they are using is highly regulated and the applicator would have to be licensed as well. Actual application rates of herbicides is very very low. My guess is the minis would have to pretty much be eating the herbicde as it was being applied. With that said I would call power Co. in am to find out what was used and by whom. Let them know what you have in the paasture and file official complaint in case anything ever does happen. I guess you will have quite a time getting through to the right dept. It might be right of ways and easements??

Hoping all is well

Mark

 

[Marsha Cassada]

The utility company pretty much controls the easement.

They probably used either Roundup or Escort.

My son was a forestry supervisor for PSO (Not in your area) and that is what the tree crews generally use. The tree crews are sometimes not the sharpest knives in the drawer. They might not know a redbud from a redwood.

If you can't find out anything tomorrow when the offices open, let me know and I will find out from him who you need to personally contact in your area.

 

[REO]

HOLY CRAP! I'd be enraged too! I pray that there are no adverse effects to your mares or their foals Charlotte.

 

[JWC sr.]

Unfortunately I have to agree with Mark, Here in Texas the utility companies have total control over the easements they have on your property. Including access and plant control. If they deem it a hazard you are pretty much in a bind, unless you can find a sympathetic ear at the company. I would suggest you take a look at your deed and in particular the terms of the easement. Your atty. may be able to help also, but I doubt it.

Good Luck,

 

[Candice]

I feel your pain. Its unfortunate that no one has gotten back to you. On an easement there just isn't much you can do. Last year I went round and round with our Electric Co op over a large pine tree in my front yard. They butchered it. It was such a pretty tree. I could see them taking one limb, but to massacre the whole tree the way that they did. I went straight to the top and was told "too bad, we did what we felt was neccessary."

I sure hope your mares are not affected.

Good luck,

 

[georgiegirl]

I just realized tonight that our electric company used a herbicide to kill a small tree in the easement under the high voltage transmission lines at the back of our pasture.
It's Sunday night. I can't call them to find out what was used. I will in the morning. Does anyone on here know who regulates the activities of the electric companies regarding their easment rights and obligations?

We keep our pasture mowed like a lawn. this is the only thing but short grass under those lines. The tree is about 7 feet tall with a trunk as big around as my wrist. A redbud. It would be lucky to ever get over 15 feet. No way is it a fire danger to the electric lines WAY above it! The only way it could catch fire is if someone doused it with gasoline and lit a match to it! And the flames still couldn't reach the power lines!

You know our experiences with miniature horse mares and chemicals, both natural and man made. We do everything in our power to protect our broodmares from any enviornmental toxins. No pesticides! No herbicides! No fertilizers! No vaccines or dewormers for God's sake!!!!! NOTHING in the first trimester.

I'm trying to write this really calmly so I don't sound like a raving idiot. I FEEL LIKE A RAVING IDIOT!!!!

Some idiot climbs over the fence and sprays this little tree and all the grass around it with God knows what!!!!!!!!!! It would take 30 seconds max to cut the little thing down with a chain saw for God's sake!

I think I'm hysterical. this must have been done 2 weeks or more ago. I noticed the tree looking a bit sickly for some time now but couldn't really see anything wrong with it. My mares...IN FIRST TRIMESTER....have been out there with that .... POISON!

I can't sue them. There has been no harm done, right? I won't know how bad it might be untill my mares abort or deformed foals are born.

Oh geez

The electric companies have right aways and rights to go on those right aways. I feel your anger about the situation, however I dont believe there is anything you can do about it if the tree was on their right away.

There is a herbicide called "Habitat" that will do no harm to animals. They have used it on the irrigation dams by our house. I was furious about them killing the trees around the dams. My husband went right straight to the ditch company and he was informed that "Habitat" will not injure animals. He has since studied to take the tests to become a certified weed expert so I am pretty sure that he knows that "Habitat" will do no harm.

Hopefully that is what was used on the tree. Find out who did the spraying and what they used.

I certainly hope that no damage was done to your horses.

 

[Maple Hollow Farm]

I know exactly how you feel, the people that farm the ground around us went around and sprayed all of the fencelines that border their fields and I had to ask them what they were spraying and it was Roundup but I dont know how that could affect the mares I just got settled! And he sprayed it right over the top of my babies creep feed!!!!

I have no idea what to do about it either, if there is anything wrong with the babies next year though I am going to try to get them to take responsiblility since I told them to try to keep it away from my horses, he told me that "it is roundup and it wont hurt anything, especially horses". There probably isnt a whole lot you can do for this spraying but get your name on a list for no spray if that is possible and if they did it again than obviously they would be at fault but I do agree if they are spraying anywhere around or on your land they should let you know what it is!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Knowing something about the forestry division of the utility company, one thing I can suggest if you have an easement on your property and it looks as though a tree you like might be at risk, contact the utility company FIRST, BEFORE the tree crews/butchers come to your area, mention your concern, and ask for an arborist to supervise the trimming. Often the companies are very sensitive to PR. The tree crews go into various areas in scheduled cycles. If you see a chipper truck around, you know the tree crew is in your area.

It might not work, as the utility companies--like most other large companies nowdays--have become "bean counters". But it is worth a try.

Check with the Dept of Ag to find out about herbicide applications in your area. There has been some good legislation passed lately.

Marsha

 

[Songcatcher]

Charlotte, I understand your concern due to your past experiences. As others have said, there probably is nothing you can do legally due to the power company's easements. However, I would definately check on what was used and file a complaint with the power company for not being notified prior to their actions.

All that being said, there is probably nothing to worry about in regards to your horses. I know that is little comfort right now due to your past experiences.

Our power company (PSO) has been extremely good to get along with. When we had the ice storm in 2000, we were without power for over a week due to trees down on power lines. It looked like a war zone here and was unsafe to travel in many areas. Some people were without power for over two weeks. Since then, they have tried to trim back trees to try to prevent similar problems in the future. Twice they have asked me about trimming back trees. I have told them to cut anything they wanted. I LIKE having electricity. They have been very careful to not cut back more than necessary and I have encouraged them to cut more and I have completely cut down trees that they only trimmed. They have not ever used any spray that I am aware of.

Hope all works out well for you.

 

[Charlotte]

Still waiting for a returned call.

THANK YOU everyone for your suggestions and for sharing your knowledge. It helps us to think things through more when we are too angry to think straight. we are using many of the suggestions on here with our contacts.

Will keep you posted

C

 

[Charlotte]

Have spoken with supervisors of two different departments at OG&E. Both say the contractors NEVER use chemicals and never go on property without permission.

Well, THAT'S not correct! 3 years ago when one of the contractors had men climbing over our fence they wanted to come in and SPRAY the back fence line, Which is about 50 feet from the south edge of the easement We said no so they trimmed off a few branches and that was it. And the fellow told us what chemicals they use but I sure don't remember now. So, bottom line is OG&E is denying being responsible for anything. I'm going to take some pictures and you will see why it would be ridiculous to say some other person climbed over the fence and walked out there to spray that one little tree in the middle of their easement.

Of course they are going to deny everything!

Grrrr

C

 

[coopermini]

Charlotte,

This might not be the case with your tree but here over the past couple years we have had several trees get hit with lightning. Not the typical we usually have with bark blown off one side but a smaller strike? The trees slowly turn brown and the grass usually dies right near the base. Weather guy told us the lightning strike spreads thru the ground and kills the roots of the tree so it has a different effect. Sometimes not a direct hit but could follow another object (like a pole) to the ground near by. Other than being dead no signs of injury.

Just a thought and probably a longshot.

Mark

 

[georgiegirl]

Have spoken with supervisors of two different departments at OG&E. Both say the contractors NEVER use chemicals and never go on property without permission.
Well, THAT'S not correct! 3 years ago when one of the contractors had men climbing over our fence they wanted to come in and SPRAY the back fence line, Which is about 50 feet from the south edge of the easement We said no so they trimmed off a few branches and that was it. And the fellow told us what chemicals they use but I sure don't remember now. So, bottom line is OG&E is denying being responsible for anything. I'm going to take some pictures and you will see why it would be ridiculous to say some other person climbed over the fence and walked out there to spray that one little tree in the middle of their easement.

Of course they are going to deny everything!

Grrrr

C

I hate to say it, but the electric company does have the right to do whatever they have to do on their right of way. If access is denied they have the right to get there the best way they can. They have the right to remove trees or do whatever they think they have to do to maintain their right of way.

I am not trying to be mean to you, but that is the way it is. Fighting them over their right of way is just going to raise your blood pressure.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Charlotte,

Just spoke to my son who works for PSO. When you call OG&E, you have to ask for someone in the Transmission Right-of-way Dept.

They are required to have a record of what was sprayed, so you can find out what the product was. Most likely it will be one that is safe for grazing/lactating animals, but you have a right to know what it was. You will need to know the approximate date the spray happened.

If they won't tell you what the product was, you can inform them that you will file a claim with the OK Dept of Ag. The Dept of Ag are obliged to investigate and will find out the product. If OG&E can't/won't tell them, they can be fined.

Easements under transmission lines are regulated by the Federal Government, not the state or local utilities.

I guess the lesson here is not to allow anything to grow under a transmission line so they will have no reason to enter your property.