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Permit Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) to Upgrade SCADA System along Existing Lines at Spotsylvania Battlefield

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park » Permit Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) to Upgrade SCADA System along Existing Lines at Spotsylvania Battlefield

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP proposes to permit Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) to upgrade its current SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system along existing overhead and underground lines inside its right-of-way in the Spotsylvania Battlefield area. This effort is part of a large-scale project proposed across northern Virginia to upgrade the current SCADA system between multiple substations to help identify where maintenance is needed, improve power quality, reduce line losses, and reduce operations and maintenance costs through monitoring and control of distribution voltage.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative proposes to use both overhead and underground methods to install fiber cable alongside the existing REC powerline path, within established right-of-way easements in the park. Undergrounding of 2-inch conduit and fibercable will begin at the pole just north of Hancock Road, starting at 8116 Brock Road, that will continue along the west side of Brock Road before turning south onto Old Block House Road. Conduit will be installed using a directional drill, with conduit placed 3 to 8 feet from edge of pavement at a minimum depth of 36 inches, based on existing utilities. Potholing methods will be used to expose existing utilities, either by hand digging or vacuum excavator, which would use high pressure air or water to break up the soil. These testing pits will be 1ft across, down to the utilities and be performed approx. every 400ft, or as needed. A bore rig, water truck and vac truck will be set up and move along the proposed path every 800ft and sit at the entry pits (size 4ft x 4ft, 36" depth) while a trailer holding the fiber cable and conduit reels will sit at the exit pits to pull the fibercable through. There will be a total of five 24" x 36" flush mount vaults along this path. An archaeological survey of the proposed route and corridor was conducted, and no historic resources will be adversely affected. The NPS plans to issue a revised right-of-way to REC that will be updated to reflect the new infrastructure.

Contact Information

Eric Mink
540-627-6079