Transelec gives the country a service that is essential for the development of its society. This challenge involves certain environmental impacts, particularly during the construction stage of the power transmission lines:
Generation of noise and particulate matter: As with any building activity, Transelec generates noise and emission of particulate matter during the construction of transmission lines. Although these impacts are of a minor nature, Transelec implements the mesures needed to control them.
Clearing of Vegetation within right-of-way strips: The erection of the towers implies the use of a right-of-way strip , however, the area that is directly affected by the clearing of vegetation prior to the laying of foundations for the towers is less than the total area of the right-of-way strip. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that since the cutting procedure affects vegetation that is over 4 metres high, agricultural activities which involve grape growing and fruit-tree plantations as well as any other crops below this height.
Clearing of vegetation along maintenance roads: Vegetation is also cleared along the access roads implemented for the construction and further maintenance of the transmission lines. Transelec aims to affect the least possible number of specimens during this process and to leave native species untouched by submitting, whenever required, the corresponding forest management plans. Furthermore, Transelec minimizes the impact of its activities by using a helicopter for the installation of its towers in cases where the construction works must be carried out in areas of high biological interest.
Possible soil erosion: Since the loss of the superficial soil layer can lead to soil erosion, Transelec tries to mitigate the effects of this impact by avoiding the installation of towers in places where the risk of erosion is high, such as steep ground and areas prone to rock-fall and landslides such as slopes and cuts in hillsides, or those likely to be affected by floods. Additionally, the extraction of soil is minimized by accommodating each one of the legs of the tower to the topography of the surrounding area. This means that when the tower is installed in rugged terrain, the legs of the same tower will be of different length. Also, as low-growing shrubs are not disturbed, the soil is protected from erosion.
Fauna disturbance: Since the local fauna might be disturbed during the construction period, Transelec makes every effort to minimize the effects by preventing the removal of shrub species and by giving environment-preserving training to workers and contractors.
Visual impact: The visual impact of towers on the landscape is inevitable, however, this is something that Transelec evaluates at the design stage of the project in order to find either a location of low visibility for the construction of the towers or one that is near or runs parallel to existing transmission lines.
Posible impact on Cultural Heritage: Every project involves an archaelogical survey to gather information that will allow the company, if necessary, to apply the plan for the detection and management of archaelogical sites, a task that is done jointly with the National Monuments Council and the Regional Conama (National Commission for Environmental Issues).