News Release for June 30, 2008
For More Information, Please contact:
Bob Moosmann, MaineDOT Statewide Vegetation Manager, 624-3107
Mark Latti, MaineDOT Office of Communications, 624-3030

MAINEDOT TO START ANNUAL ROADSIDE BRUSH-CONTROL PROGRAM

The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will begin its annual brush-control program along Maine’s highways starting July 7th, according to MaineDOT statewide vegetation manager Bob Moosmann, who oversees the state’s roadside vegetation management program.

 “Trees and brush can obscure the view along Maine’s roads creating unsafe conditions for motorists,” Moosmann said. “Maine is the most heavily forested state in the United States and trees readily grow along roadsides which creates a need for continual maintenance.”

Removing brush helps keep Maine highways safe by maintaining proper sight-distances along roadways at curves, intersections, driveways and hills. It also maintains safety clear zones where motorists can safely depart the travel way due to an emergency or accident. In the winter, clear roadsides allow snow to be pushed far enough off the road to maintain an adequate level of safety, and it increases sunlight on roadways, which reduces icing and the need for road salt.

MaineDOT uses an integrated approach to maintaining roadside safety clear zones. “We use a combination of methods to manage vegetation. These include mowing, mechanical brush removal, sustainable vegetation, hand removal, and herbicides,” says Moosmann. “This integrated approach reduces the use of herbicides. Over the past ten years we have developed strategies that have reduced our use of herbicides dramatically, by over 60% annually,”

MaineDOT hires contractors to perform roadside brush-control spraying in all five regions of the state. Each MaineDOT region reviews its roads to determine those that need to be sprayed.

“We have incorporated the use of GIS technologies to map, schedule, and track roads that are sprayed. Our regions are now able to alternate, year to year, which roads are sprayed,” Moosmann says. “We have cut back the number of roads and the overall length of roads sprayed on a yearly basis. We have not sprayed every road every year since 2003.” says Moosmann.  This year, MaineDOT will spray approximately 3,380 miles of state-maintained roads in 158 communities and townships around the state. MaineDOT oversees over 13,000 miles of roads statewide.

MaineDOT researches all materials sprayed and selects those with the lowest environmental risks, as well as the lowest health risks for applicators. Spraying is done during summer months along roadsides chosen for treatment. The materials used may include Garlon 4 (triclopyr), Krenite S (fosamine ammonium), or Escort XP (metsulfuron methyl). As part of its commitment to environmental and worker protection, MaineDOT uses the lowest rates possible for control of brush. “By using different materials in a combination, we spray less of each material and we still get control of brush,” explains Moosmann. Only hardwood brush up to six feet in height and softwood brush up to three feet in height is sprayed along roadsides in Maine. “Oversized brush is removed by hand or by mechanized machines in all regions of the state,” says Moosmann.

Pesticide training is conducted each spring for employees and contractors who apply herbicides for MaineDOT. The department focuses on personal safety, proper use of products, environmental concerns, current technologies, and maintaining buffers from sensitive areas, as key elements in the ongoing training program. “This year we are beginning initiatives to control invasive plants and control plants such as poison ivy that present a health risk to our workers,” Moosmann comments.

MaineDOT maintains a number of buffers to protect natural resources, water, livestock, pastures, gardens, and the public from exposure. Powered spraying is prohibited within 100 feet of wells and springs; 150 feet of parked vehicles; 100 feet of animal pastures; 150 feet of occupied buildings, homes, or playgrounds; 100 feet of organic farms, pedestrians, bicyclists, or picnic tables; or within the areas defined by MaineDOT No-Spray Agreements. MaineDOT’s No-Spray Agreement program is available to landowners and municipalities living adjacent to state-maintained roads. Parties who participate agree to remove brush in respective safety clear zones adjacent to their properties in lieu of herbicide treatments.

For more information about the spray program, or to request a No-Spray Agreement contact your local MaineDOT Region Office at:

• Region 1 (Scarborough) - P.O. Box 358, Scarborough, 04070-0358                                 885-7000
• Region 2 (Augusta) - 45 Commerce Drive, SHS #98, Augusta 04333-0098                        624-8200
• Region 3 (Dixfield) - P.O. Box 817, Dixfield, 04224                                                         562-4228
• Region 4 (Bangor) - P.O. Box 1208, 219 Hogan Road, Bangor, 04401-1208                      941-4500
• Region 5 (Presque Isle) - P.O. Box 1178, Rice Street, Presque Isle, 04769                      764-2060

To obtain further information on schedules for your community, please contact your MaineDOT Region Office. To locate your Region Office, log in at www.mainedot.gov, or call MaineDOT headquarters at 207-624-3000. Technical information is also available from the MaineDOT Bureau of Maintenance and Operations in Augusta by calling 624-3600.

(Editors: A list of towns to be sprayed in 2008 is below for your reference.)

Region 1: Auburn, Baldwin, Bridgton, Brownfield, Casco, Cornish, Denmark, Fryeburg, Harrison, Hiram, Limington, Lovell, Naples, Otisfield, Oxford, Poland, Raymond, Sebago, Standish, Stoneham, Sweden, Waterford.

Region 2: Alna, Augusta, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Bremen, Bristol, Chelsea, Cushing, Damariscotta, Dresden, Edgecomb, Farmingdale, Friendship, Gardiner, Georgetown, Greene, Hallowell, Hope, Jefferson, Leeds, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Pittston, Randolph.

Region 3: Adamstown Twp, Albany Twp, Alder Stream Twp, Andover, Anson, Athens, Avon, Beaver Cove, Bethel, Big Moose Twp, Bingham, Brighton Plt, Buckfield,    Byron, Cambridge, Canaan, Canton, Caratunk, Carrabassett Valley, Carthage, Chain of Ponds Twp, Chesterville, Coburn Gore, Concord Twp, Coplin Plt, Cornville, Cove Point Twp, Dallas Plt, Dennistown Plt, Dixfield, Embden, Eustis, Farmington, Gilead, Mercer, Norridgewock, Paris, Saint Albans, Skowhegan, Smithfield, West Paris.

Region 4: Abbot, Addison, Alexander, Alton, Amherst, Argyle Twp, Atkinson, Aurora, Baring Plt, Barnard Twp, Beddington, Blanchard Twp, Bowerbank, Bradford, Brownville, Bucksport, Carmel, Charleston, Cherryfield, Clifton, Cooper, Corinna, Corinth, Crawford, Dedham, Detroit, Devereaux Twp, Dexter, Dixmont, Dover-Foxcroft, East Machias, Ebeemee Twp, Eddington.

Region 5: Amity, Bancroft, Benedicta Twp, Brookton Twp, Carroll Plt, Cary Plt, Chester, Codyville Plt, Crystal, Danforth, Drew Plt, Dyer Brook, East Millinocket, Forest City Twp, Forest Twp, Forkstown Twp, Glenwood Plt, Grindstone Twp, Hammond, Haynesville, Hersey, Herseytown Twp, Hodgdon, Houlton, Island Falls, Kingman Twp, Kossuth Twp, Lambert Lake Twp, Lee, Linneus, Littleton, Long A Twp, Ludlow.           

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