utility forest. UTRA practices also differ from those of general arboriculture in that the focus is on trees both on developed urban sites and in rural forested areas. Further, UTRA considers trees that are not owned or controlled by the utility. Finally, UTRA is unique when compared to general arboriculture in that it frequently considers two classes of consequence when it comes to tree strikes: (1) the direct consequences of damage to utility infrastructure, and (2) the indirect consequences of the energy delivery system being damaged, such as power outages, elevated risk of the public and worker exposure to downed lines, and potential wildfire. The purpose of this publication is to guide utility vegetation managers and utility tree risk assessors in accurately and consistently assessing tree risks posed to overhead electric utility infrastructure, effectively evaluating those risks, and understanding which risk mitigation practices can reasonably reduce risks to an acceptable level. This publication also recognizes the role that vegetation maintenance line clearance tree workers have in evaluating hazards related to tree failures at the time that corrective risk mitigation and preventive vegetation maintenance work is performed. The underlying importance and value of trees should be recognized when considering risk mitigation options. 3