65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 910, § 3

Current through 2024-25, June 19, 2024

Section 407-910-3 - VERTICAL CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

All overhead lines of an aerial utility crossing water areas suitable for sailing, or public or private land and water areas posted for rigging or launching sailboats, shall comply with the vertical clearance requirements of Section 232 of the National Electrical Safety Code, Table 232-1, sections 7 and 8 thereof, together with all applicable footnotes, with the following modifications:

A. Water Areas of 20 to 2,000 Acres

The same vertical clearance requirements shall apply to all water areas with unobstructed areas of 20 to 2,000 acres. These requirements shall be the higher clearance requirements set forth by the National Electrical Safety Code for water areas of 200 to 2,000 acres. To accomplish this, the following modifications are made:

1 Section 7(b) of Table 232-1 is eliminated, and the vertical clearance requirements of Section 7(c) (minimum clearances of 31.5 feet to 34.5 feet) shall apply to all water areas suitable for sailing with an unobstructed surface area of 20 acres to 2,000 acres.

2 Similarly, Section 7(b) is eliminated for the purposes of Section 8 and the vertical clearance requirements of five (5) feet greater than the Section 7(c) requirements (36.5 feet to 39.5 feet) shall apply to all water areas posted for rigging or launching sailboats on water areas of 20 to 2,000 acres.

3 In footnote 18 of Table 232-1, referring to Table 232-3, the 20 to 200 acre surface area category (f(2)) is eliminated and the reference vessel height of 30 feet shall apply to surface areas of 20 acres to 2,000 acres.

B. Existing Communications and Neutral Conductors

Telephone utilities and cable television companies may maintain existing communications conductors and cables on existing poles, and electric utilities may maintain existing neutral conductors that meet the requirements of Rule 230 E(l) of the Code on existing poles, until such time as the pole is replaced, removed, or reconstructed, at which time any remaining conductors and cables shall meet the requirements of this Rule.

C. Lesser Requirements Superseded

With respect to footnote 19 to Table 232-1, the vertical clearance requirements of this Rule shall supersede any requirements for less vertical clearance allowed by the State of Maine, or a surrogate thereof, or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to the extent allowed by law.

65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 910, § 3