Section 54-24-203 - Wildland fire protection plan for an electric cooperative(1) An electric cooperative shall prepare a wildland fire protection plan in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.(2) A wildland fire protection plan under Subsection (1) shall include: (a) a description of areas within the service territory of the electric cooperative that may be subject to a heightened risk of wildland fire;(b) a description of the procedures, standards, and time frames that the electric cooperative will use to inspect and operate its infrastructure;(c) a description of the procedures and standards that the electric cooperative will use to perform vegetation management;(d) a description of proposed modifications or upgrades to facilities and preventative programs that the electric cooperative will implement to reduce the risk of its electric facilities initiating a wildland fire;(e) a description of procedures for de-energizing power lines and disabling reclosers to mitigate potential wildland fires, taking into consideration:(i) the ability of the electric cooperative to reasonably access the proposed power line to be de-energized;(ii) the balance of the risk of wildland fire with the need for continued supply of electricity to a community; and(iii) any potential impact to public safety, first responders, and health and communication infrastructure;(f) a description of the procedures the electric cooperative intends to use to restore its electrical system in the event of a wildland fire; and(g) a description of potential consultation, if applicable, with state or local wildland fire protection plans.(3)(a) An electric cooperative shall submit the wildland fire protection plan described in this section to its governing authority:(i) on or before June 1, 2020; and(ii) on or before October 1 of every third year after calendar year 2020.(b) The governing authority shall: (i) review the plan submitted under Subsection (3)(a); and(ii) consider input from:(A) the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands created in Section 65A-1-4;(B) any other appropriate federal, state, or local entity that chooses to provide input; and(C) other interested persons who choose to provide input.(c) The governing authority shall approve a wildland fire protection plan submitted under Subsection (3)(a) if the plan: (i) is reasonable and in the interest of the electric cooperative members; and(ii) appropriately balances the costs of implementing the plan with the risk of a potential wildland fire.(d) An electric cooperative shall file with the commission a wildland fire protection plan submitted and approved under this section.(4) An electric cooperative shall:(a) file with its governing authority an annual report detailing the electric cooperative's compliance with the wildland fire protection plan; and(b) file with the commission a copy of the annual compliance report described in Subsection (4)(a).(5) The commission shall make available for public inspection:(a) a wildland fire protection plan filed under Subsection (3)(d); and(b) an annual compliance report filed under Subsection (4)(b).Added by Chapter 162, 2020 General Session ,§ 6, eff. 5/12/2020.