As part of the natural resource assessment performed for VT Transco, LLC projects, regulated resources are located in the field by VELCO Environmental Team scientists and/or environmental consultants with a global positioning system (GPS).  Such regulated features include threatened and endangered plants, wetlands, streams, and archeological sites.  The GPS unit utilized by VT Transco is state-of-the art and capable of a high level of accuracy that would rival the standard methods of data acquisition such as instrument surveys (i.e. stadia rod and compass) while generating useable data in a cost effective and timely manner.

Once gathered, the field data is inserted onto the project site plans for use by company contractors and employees during construction of the project.  This valuable data is then utilized by VT Transco’s ROW management department for use during routine vegetative management of the line and during transmission line maintenance.  The use of this data for these work activities lessens VT Transco’s impact on the environment by ensuring that work crews on our ROWs have accurate data depicting regulated resources so that the resources can either be avoided or special impact mitigation measures implemented.