FAQ - Field Surveys and Engineering Studies

Private property owners are being asked to grant PGE a right of entry (also called an “access permit”) to access their property to conduct field surveys and engineering studies. Granting permission to enter private property does not mean the property owner is consenting to grant a future easement or that a transmission line will be constructed across that property.

Under federal and state permitting processes, PGE must collect data on biological, cultural and historical resources within the study corridors. These studies will help ensure that if the project is permitted, the line and structures can be installed properly and safely, while minimizing impacts to sensitive resources.

Biological Field Surveys

Biologists will visit private properties to conduct a number of different surveys. These include surveys for vegetation, threatened, endangered and other sensitive wildlife and plants, and wetlands and waters. Each of the biological surveys will be conducted by biologists walking throughout the property, taking notes and mapping their respective biological findings. Depending on what is encountered during surveys, a return visit may be required. Surveys will be conducted according to protocols established by state and federal government agencies.

Cultural Field Surveys

Archaeologists will be surveying for historic and prehistoric cultural resources. Archaeologists may also assess if sites are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. On privately owned lands, such resources cannot be listed on the National Register without the permission of the landowner.

The cultural surveys will be conducted by up to four archaeologists walking parallel through the property, taking notes and mapping areas of potential archaeological sensitivity; identifying visible archaeological resources or other indicators of potential archaeological or historic materials; and identifying and documenting the extent of prior significant ground disturbance.

Engineering Studies

Engineers and surveyors may need to study the topography and land features within the project’s site boundary to identify where transmission towers and access roads could be safely located, if the project is approved and construction moves forward. These studies will not result in ground disturbance.

All of the people conducting these studies will be PGE employees or contractors approved by PGE. PGE has contracted with Tetra Tech, Inc. and URS Corp. to conduct the biological and cultural studies and Black & Veatch to conduct the engineering studies. All employees, contractors and subcontractors accessing your property will have PGE-issued photo identification and their vehicles will display a PGE logo whenever possible.

Different teams of biologists, archaeologists and engineers may be accessing your property at various times, depending on the season and what they are looking for. In addition, PGE will request utility locaters to identify the location of underground utilities within the study corridor, where needed.

Vegetation surveys, wildlife surveys, stream habitat surveys, and wetland and waters surveys will likely occur between the spring and fall; rare plant surveys will occur during the spring. Depending on the size and nature of your property, each team may need up to one field day (10 hours) to conduct each of the surveys.

The professionals conducting these studies do this work on a regular basis and take great care to minimize any impact on private property. The biologists and archaeologists will mostly travel on foot. Unless otherwise authorized by the property owner, PGE and its contractors will only use motorized vehicles on existing roads on the owner’s property to access the survey study area, and will conduct data collection on foot where road access is unavailable or insufficient. PGE will repair any damage that may be inadvertently caused by this work.

Surveyors are familiar with noxious weeds and will document their presence; standard field survey practices will be observed, including taking measures to avoid spreading noxious weeds during surveys. No plant material will be brought onto the property. Small samples of individual plants could potentially be taken from the property; no rare plants will be removed. No soils will be transported onto or off the property.

In selected areas where there is a likelihood of wetland soils or historic and prehistoric cultural resources, surveys may involve limited soil disturbance in order to satisfy wetland sampling and state archeological survey protocols.

Some property owners have given PGE permission to access their property at any time without further notification. Others have asked for advance notice. Private landowners can discuss any requirements with their PGE property services representative. If landowners need contact information for their property services representative, please contact PGE through the contact us form.