The Watchdog: Boy wants BGE accountability

Problem: 'Worried for nature'

When The Capital received a letter from a reader who was concerned about Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s policies regarding tree removal, the Watchdog gave resident Max Meinhold a call.

Max, who lives in Davidsonville, had written this:

"In my neighborhood, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. is taking down every tree and shrub more than two feet tall under and near the power lines! It should have to plant a tree of the same type for every tree it cuts down, and a shrub of the same type for every shrub it cuts down. I'm worried for nature."

But when the Watchdog called Max's number, she didn't expect to be greeted with the voice of a 9-year-old boy on the other end of the line.

Max, who attends Davidsonville Elementary School, said he is concerned about the environment and was disturbed when he saw a number of evergreens come down in his area.

"Trees and shrubs take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen," he said. "And with little trees being left, we'll have less oxygen, which means we'll have more global warming, which is not good."

Pat Meinhold, Max's mother said her son's concern about the environment stems from his love for animals and the outside.

"We first noticed in another neighborhood that trees were being taken down, and he mentioned it in the car that he didn't think BGE should have to take them all down," Mrs. Meinhold said.

So Mrs. Meinhold said she and Max's dad urged their son to either write a letter to BGE or the newspaper about his concerns. When the couple came back home after some errands, they found that Max had been busily drafting a letter for The Capital.

Solution: Not a 'clear-cut' one

When the Watchdog called BGE last week, the utility company was backed up with calls about power outages. On Dec. 31, there were gale advisories that had a lot of county residents sitting in the dark.

Power outages often occur because of tree and brush limbs that tangle in the power lines and pull them down. Because of this, even a slightly windy day could cause several households to lose power in one fell swoop.

Linda Foy, a spokesman for BGE, could not provide the Watchdog with a response to Max's concerns before press time, but the company's Web site may provide some basic answers.

According to the Web site, BGE follows some guidelines when choosing what foliage to trim: "Trees that grow under and near power lines will be pruned or removed in order to allow a minimum clearance. The clearance requirements increase the higher the voltage lines. Tall trees near overhead lines are also targeted for trimming to prevent overhanging tree limbs from falling across the electric lines."

And when deciding whether to prune or completely remove, BGE states that "trees that are slower growing and manageable under our four- to five-year trimming cycle are selected for trimming. Other trees whose growth cannot be controlled by the trimming cycle, or which present high risk, are removed for safety and reliability."

Other questions about BGE's tree-cutting policies can be found on www.bge.com. For questions, concerns or complaints about the policies, call 410-685-0123 or 1-800-685-0123.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ever want someone to growl on your behalf? From plowing to potholes, from sediment runoff to sewer blockages, the Watchdog wants to hear about your civic problem. She'll figure out which government agency is responsible, and follow up to see that it's handled satisfactorily.