The MPRP Survey Process

To support the reliability and affordability of the energy Maryland residents need, PSEG must complete non-invasive environmental/land surveys. These surveys are standard practice across many industries for any new construction and are required for the permitting process at the federal, state and local level. They are used for everything from new homes and roads to transmission lines like the MPRP.

In the coming weeks, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, representatives working on behalf of PSEG and the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) will be accessing properties to conduct environmental and land surveys pursuant to a court order dated June 20, 2025 in the United States District Court in the District of Maryland*, a copy of which has already been served to the property owners.  The landowners will be provided the survey data and information as part of the permitting process. 

PSEG encourages communication with the individual property owners.  Please note that each property may have unique circumstances, and the site-specific schedule and activity will vary.  Please contact your Land Agent for additional information or call 833-451-MPRP (6777) to learn more about this project.

*PSEG RENEWABLE TRANSMISSION LLC, v. ARENTZ FAMILY, LP, et al., Case No.1:25-cv-01235-ABA,

The upcoming survey activities may include, but are not limited to:

PROPERTY SURVEY - METES & BOUNDS

Metes and bounds are a system of describing property boundaries using distances & directions (metes) and features such as fences, stone rows and watercourses (bounds). Survey personnel under the direction of a licensed surveyor will walk the outbounds of subject property to locate property corners with global positioning system (GPS) equipment.  If the property corners are in a location where signals from a GPS satellite cannot be found, survey personnel will set control points out in an open area, on the subject property or a public road, and then use a total station, a survey measuring instrument, to traverse to that property corner.  These control points can be temporary and picked up when survey personnel leave the property.  There are a handful of very large properties, spanning 100-plus acres, where surveyors will not walk the entire property.  For these properties, the surveyors will stay close to the mapped extent of the proposed right of way (ROW). Surveyors will also collect GPS measurements on permanent features in or near our proposed ROW.  Such features include, but are not limited to, buildings, utilities, culverts, septic systems, storm/sanitary pipes, etc.  Pennoni Engineering and Langan Engineering and Environmental Services will be executing the property surveys.

ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY - FOREST STAND DELINEATION

A forest stand is a contiguous area that contains a number of trees that are relatively homogeneous or have a common set of characteristics.  A forest stand delineation is necessary to identify forest stand boundaries and specimen trees (trees with a diameter-at-breast-height of 30 inches or greater) in the Project Area. Teams will be carrying diameter tapes along with a tablet and GPS backpack system. Surveyed trees will be marked with chalk. No disturbance to the soil or vegetation is required for this field work. The work could take anywhere from less than an hour to a couple of days depending on the acreage of forests and number of trees onsite.

WETLAND DELINEATION FIELD WORK

Wetland delineation will require a team of approximately two people to identify the boundaries of wetlands by digging 4-inch diameter holes with a handheld auger and identifying vegetation onsite. Any soil removed will be returned to the hole from which it was dug to the extent possible. Teams will be identifiable by the presence of an auger and tablet with a backpack GPS system.  Wetlands will be delineated within the ROW and access roads, within an approximate 25-foot buffer around the ROW and access roads, and within a 300-foot buffer of known sensitive species habitat, where feasible.

ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY - ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Archaeological surveys are necessary to identify and assess potential impacts on cultural resources, such as human artifacts, structures, or other cultural remains.  These surveys involve various methods to locate, document, and evaluate locations within the project's proposed area of potential effect.  Archaeological surveys could be one of two methods: pedestrian surveys or shovel test excavations. Pedestrian surveys are conducted in areas such as plowed fields where the exposed soil surface is visible. The archeological team will walk straight lines (sweeps) about 10 feet apart, back and forth, across the proposed project area looking at the ground to spot artifacts that are present on the surface. A shovel test will then be completed in the vicinity of the concentration. Shovel tests will occur in areas where soil visibility is poor. Shovel tests will generally be performed at 50-foot intervals in non-active farm areas and wooded areas along a grid over the proposed project area.

The team will carry shovels, a small handheld soil screen, and a GPS backpack system. Shovel tests will be approximately 1.5 feet in diameter and on average are about 18 inches deep. All test locations will be backfilled upon completion and would not be left open overnight. Depending on the extent of the proposed project area within the property, the work may take anywhere from less than one hour to several days.

ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY - RARE AND THREATENED SPECIES (RTE) PLANTS AND HABITAT ASSESSMENT

Staff members will record and identify habitat types throughout the proposed project area noting vegetation, species and site features that could support the target RTE species. Suitable habitats will be mapped using a backpack GPS and tablet system. No flagging or equipment will be left onsite. No disturbance to vegetation or soil is required as part of this field work. The work could take anywhere from less than one hour to approximately 5 hours depending on the amount of suitable habitat onsite.  These surveys may require multiple site visits to complete the assessments to accommodate field conditions and required time-of-year study window requirements. 

Contact us for more information

Please contact your Land Agent for additional information or call 833-451-MPRP (6777) to learn more about this project.

Safety is our highest priority
It is essential that you and anyone using your property, including children and pets, refrain from going near our activity zones. PSEG is committed to environmental stewardship and will work to minimize and mitigate the environmental impacts in accordance with applicable local, state and federal requirements.