Minimum vegetation clearance distance
Minimum vegetation clearance distancethe calculated distance (stated in feet or meters) that is used to prevent flashover between conductors and vegetation for various altitudes and operating voltages. The MVCD is measured from a conductor's maximum operating sag to vegetation on NFS lands within the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility and on NFS lands adjacent to either side of the linear right-of-way for a powerline facility for purposes of felling or pruning hazard trees, which the owner or operator uses to determine whether vegetation poses a system reliability hazard to the powerline facility.