Morris Soil District: PSE&G and Kiewit Win Award for Conservation-Minded Power Line Project

Published on November 09, 2017

NOMINATED BY MORRIS COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Public Service Electric & Gas and Kiewit power line contractors have been honored by the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts for their efforts to protect natural resources during the construction of a major North Jersey power line project.(JPG, 10KB)

The two firms were recognized for their outstanding protection of natural resources'' in the construction of the Susquehanna-Roseland Electric Reliability Transmission Line.

The firms were nominated for the award by the Morris County Soil Conservation District.

In its planning and execution, this transmission line replacement project was an outstanding example of a large scale endeavor carried out with all the attention to detail necessary to protect the wildlife and natural resources along its route, said Louise Davis, Chair of the Morris County Soil Conservation District.

Stretching from Roseland through Morris County and out to Pennsylvania, the transmission line replacement project traversed some of the most sensitive ecosystems in northern New Jersey. Central to this route was the New Jersey Highlands Preservation area, which has special state protections to safeguard the drinking water supply for millions of state residents.

The award presented by the NJ Association of Conservation Districts on Nov. 2 recognized the extraordinary conservation measures and the high-quality maintenance applied over this multi-year project.(PNG, 5KB)

During the awards presentation, Paul Drake and David Roth of PSE&G recalled an episode in Montville where the removal of a nearly 100-year-old footing, which supported a tower, exposed a nest of snakes that had over-wintered in the deep fractures of the old concrete.

Dozens of snakes from a variety of species were caught, identified and moved to a safe location until they could be returned when the work was completed.(PNG, 4KB)

Given the diverse landscape this project crossed, the contractors frequently sought the advice and relied on the experience of Morris County Soil District staff to addressing conservation issues, such as the muck soils of Troy Meadows in Parsippany or the steep rocky slopes of Oak Ridge in Jefferson.

Soil Conservation Districts are specialized units of state government. The Morris County District is directed by a Board of Supervisors comprised of county residents.

This Board sets priorities for the district and provides for project reviews, approvals, inspections, enforcement and awards on all major soil disturbance projects within Morris County.

Since 1976, when the district began keeping records for urban soil disturbance, Morris County has had approximately 20 percent of its land area excavated for a variety of projects.

For more information on the Morris County Soil Conservation District, visit: http://mcscd.org/