Environmental groups frustrated by Dominion clear-cutting trees along historic Va. trail
LORTON, Va. (7News) — Last month, the I-Team caught Dominion Energy cutting down trees, again, alongside its transmission lines in Lorton, Virginia.
Dominion calls it annual maintenance.
We interviewed homeowners in their backyards weeks ago, but now those backyards have changed.
Three weeks later, 7News I-Team Investigative Reporter Scott Taylor stood in the backyard of the home that now has fewer trees.
Down the road in Vienna, Taylor revealed earlier this year Dominion had clear-cut hundreds of trees along the historic 45-mile Washington and Old Dominion trail.
"The people I talk to say they just obliterated it," says Susan Stillman, a member of the Sierra Club - Great Falls, who stopped to talk to 7News on the trail.
Stillman enjoys cruising along the trail, which travels through Fairfax, Arlington and Loudoun counties.
"It's amazing. It's a freeway. It's our Route 66," says Stillman.
Dominion claims it took down the four miles of trees because they pose a threat to the power towers. But Susan says that doesn't make a lot of sense.
They made it much less attractive, and they don't see why you would take trees way over there when the power lines are on the other side way over here.
The Fairfax Communities Healthy Network, a group of 11 environmental organizations in the area, just sent a letter to Dominion.
It says that clear-cutting the trees along the transmission corridor damages the local environment and quality of life for those who live along the trail.
The Network is asking Dominion to return to its long-standing policy of selectively trimming only trees that pose a genuine threat.
READ | Dominion Energy defends tree removal in Fairfax County as safety and compliance questioned
"I feel it is a regressive, irresponsible policy if it's even a policy or practice that has no place in the year 2025," says Ann Bennett with the Sierra Club Great Falls Group.
The environmental groups aren't fighting alone. Virginia House Delegate Holly Seibold just sent this letter to Dominion President Ed Baine expressing her disappointment about Dominion's conduct and calling on him to make public the company's vegetation management plan or face legislative action.
Nova Parks is on board. Calling on Dominion to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding to put limits on how the energy company manages the land around those transmission towers. Paul Gilbert is the Nova Parks Executive Director.
"It really says first restore the area that's been damaged. In the future, if a tree needs to come down, this has a formula on how to deal with that," adds Gilbert.
Dominion email 7News:
Delegate Holly Siebold’s request is currently under review.
We’ve also received the draft Memorandum of Agreement from NOVA Parks, which is being carefully reviewed. As outlined in our March 26 letter to NOVA Parks, we remain committed to working with them on a long-term forestry plan for the Trail. That includes replanting pollinator areas and low-growing native species, as well as enhancing control of invasive species.
Our goal is to support the Trail’s natural habitat while ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the transmission lines serving our Northern Virginia customers—and we’re confident we can do both.
Thank you,
Aisha
Aisha Khan
Media/Community Relations Manager
Northern Virginia
Dominion Energy
7News has asked Dominion the following questions, which are still unanswered by the energy company:
- The date, time, and location of any incident along the Washington – Old Dominion Trail where a tree caused an interruption of the electrical grid in the past 20 years.
- The date, time, and location of any incident in Virginia where a tree caused an interruption of the electrical grid in the past 20 years.
- What specific changes in NERC guidelines caused Dominion to change its vegetation management plan from pruning trees along the Washington & Old Dominion trail to clear-cutting the trees along the trail?
