Consideration of Biodiversity in Rights-of-Way Management by the Utility Industry in Maryland

Sandra Shaw Patty, Mark T. Southerland, and Stephen D. Kartalia

The Power Plant Research Program, a division of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is charged with addressing the environmental consequences of electric power generation and transmission within Maryland. Recent results from a survey of U.S. and Canadian utility company biologists indicate that a majority believe biodiversity conservation should be a goal for resource management although it is not currently a major issue for most companies. To address the question of cumulative impacts on biodiversity related to power generation and transmission, the Power Plant Research Program conducted a similar biodiversity survey of public utility commissions and natural resource agencies in all 50 states. The result of our survey of state agencies parallels the results of the survey of utilities. Both surveys found that few states or utilities are directly addressing the biodiversity issue. Both surveys indicated that more than three-quarters of the utilities and state agencies feel that biodiversity will be an important issue in the future. Now, two-thirds of the state agencies, but less than one-quarter of utilities, consider biodiversity an important issue. Similarly, state agencies are more than twice as likely to be conducting or funding research related to biodiversity. This argues for increased attention to biodiversity by electric utilities. It also poses a challenge for state natural resource agencies seeking ways to minimize the adverse effects and maximize the beneficial effects of utilities on biodiversity. As one of very few states with comprehensive state agency management for biodiversity and a program that specifically addresses the environmental impacts of the electric utility industry, Maryland is considering several joint activities with the electric utilities to address biodiversity. Improved siting and management of transmission line rights-of-way are foremost among these.

Keywords: Biodiversity, power plants, questionnaire, public utility commissions, state natural resource agencies, ecosystem management, rights-of-way, conservation