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1.08 POWER LINE CLEARANCE (PLC) PRUNING SPECIFICATIONS <br />When trees are in the proximity of overhead energized lines and equipment, reliability of service, safety, <br />and governmental standards require a reasonable amount of tree pruning to avoid conductor contacts and <br />grounding of circuits through the trees. Power line clearance pruning, therefore, shall consist of the <br />removal of tree branches for proper electric line clearance in order to minimize the likelihood of power <br />outages and improve safety. <br />Specifically, trees shall be pruned in such a manner as to: <br />a. Clear all branches and foliage within ten (10) feet of primary electrical lines. <br />b. Clear all branches that interfere with secondary electric lines within three (3) to five (5) feet <br />c. Protect current tree health, condition and symmetry using Dr. Alex Shigo's book, Pruning Trees Near <br />Electric Utility Lines as a guide. <br />During the tree pruning process, all safe minimum working distances for energized conductors shall be <br />observed. These clearances are defined under ANSI Z133.1 -1994. Current ANSI specifications will <br />supersede these requirements when they take effect. Any contact with energized lines shall be promptly <br />reported to an authorized SAPRF representative. <br />Access to backyards must be closely coordinated with the property owner, whenever feasible. Spikes <br />may be used for PLC pruning on palms or other trees only when needed for proper safety reasons. <br />1.09 PALM PRUNING SPECIFICATIONS <br />Palms shall be pruned at the 10:00 and 2:00 o'clock positions. Palm pruning shall consist of the pruning <br />of the following, but not limited to, palms (Syagrus romanzoffianum (queen palm), Archontophoenix <br />cunninghamiana (king palm), Phoenix Canariensis (Canary Island date palm), Phoenix Dactylifera (date <br />palm), Washingtonia filifera (California fan palm); and Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican fan palm) per <br />these specifications. <br />a. The removal of all dead fronds and other dead plant parts from the trunk. All loose frond sheaths <br />shall be removed along the entire length of the palm trunk. <br />b. The shaping of the palms "pineapple" beneath the fronds to achieve a consistent and aesthetic <br />appearance. <br />c. The removal of all flowers and f uit parts whether dead or alive. <br />d. The use of climbing spurs or spike shoes in the act of pruning trees is prohibited, excepting palms that <br />are more than sixty -five (65) feet in height. <br />e. Palms, especially, the Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix Canariensis) trunks shall be cleaned of any <br />weed species. The immediate area below the green fronds shall be trimmed to a symmetrical <br />(pineapple) appearance. The shape shall not exceed a minimum of forty -eight (48) inches or a <br />maximum of sixty- (60) inches length below the green fronds. The trunk when pruning operations <br />are complete shall be left in a clean, unscathed appearance throughout the entire length of the palm <br />trunk. Canary Island date palms shall be pruned using a sterilized handsaw. The handsaw must be <br />cleaned and sterilized before and after pruning each tree. <br />Page 44 <br />