List of Documents re: Utility Tree Removal and Pruning
To supplement the information provided on the site, consult the following links to documents for background on the law and the issues involving utility tree pruning and removal. Note for more recent documents and information, see Previous Updates, and check Recent Information, Notices and News.
- State Vegetation Management Task Force Report: The Task Force was established on the recommendation of the Two Storms Panel, which had been established by Governor Malloy following the 2011 and then 2012 storms. The Task Force reported to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in August of 2013, and by statute, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) was directed to consider the Task Force Report in developing standards for utility vegetation management. The Two Storms Panel Report (released by the Governor on January 9, 2012) also recommended a focus on removal of hazardous trees and serious consideration of undergrounding, as the Garden Club of New Haven and New Haven URI letter to the Panel had urged.
- Public Act 12-148, requiring PURA to address utility vegetation management or "tree trimming," among other issues related to power outages from major storms. [relevant portions highlighted]
- Transfer of vegetation management issues (and discussion thereof) in Final Decision, Docket No. 12-06-09, which was opened to comply with PA 12-148
- PURA issued a Draft Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10, Tree Trimming, on November 19, 2013. The State Vegetation Management Task Force filed Exceptions to that decision on December 13, 2013, and a hearing was held before PURA in New Britain on December 20, 2013 at 1 pm, where the Chair of the State Vegetation Management Task Force presented oral argument in support of the Exceptions.
- Garden Club of New Haven testimony in PURA Tree Trimming Docket No. 12-01-10, July 31, 2013. March 4, 2014 Comments of the Garden Club of New Haven for March 5 and March 6, 2014 Public Meetings.
- Deputy Commissioner of DEEP's letter filed in PURA Tree Trimming Docket No. 12-01-10, January 16, 2014. Comments of the Bureau of Natural Resources, Forestry Division of DEEP to PURA Public Meeting on March 5, 2014.
- CL&P letter and UI request for technical hearing, filed January, 2014 in Docket No. 12-01-10, in response to public concerns.
- Summary of Impact of Section 60 of Public Act 13-298 on tree wardens: This summary covers the impact of Section 60 of Public Act 13-298 on the authority of tree wardens and includes information about the rights of abutting property owners to notice of tree pruning and removal and the right to object to tree wardens and DOT. Click to read the full text of Section 60, Public Act 13-298. See also the following, which were not amended by Public Act 13-298: Section 13a-140 regarding DOT permits for tree pruning and removal, Sec, 23-59 C.G.S. and Sec. 23-65(f) C.G.S.
- Tree Wardens or Deputy Tree Wardens must be certified within one year of appointment or be licensed arborists, under Sections 9 and 10 of Public Act 13-201. Information on the history of tree wardens and the course requirements for certification.
- Tree Warden Powers under CT general statutes 23-59 and 23-65, especially subsections (b)[penalties for unlawful pruning and removal] and (f) [appeal to PURA from tree warden or DOT decision].
- United Illuminating Vegetation Management Plan, filed November 1, 2013 to comply with Orders 8 and 9 in PURA Final Decision, Docket No. 13-01-19. See pp. 13-15 and 174 of the Final Decision regarding Enhanced Tree Trimming (ETT).
- Urban Forest Council memorandum to the State Vegetation Management Task Force in response to UI's plan for removal of street trees (also filed in Docket 12-01-10, slightly altered).
- PURA Final Decision approving CL&P's System Resiliency Plan, January 16, 2013, and Testimony describing the Plan. CL&P's initial focus is on more extensive tree pruning and removal using ETT and ETR on more of its distribution lines.
- "Assessment of the Environmental Service Benefits of the City of New Haven’s Street Tree Population" by Suzanne OversveeMaster's Project, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Spring 2007.
- Letter filed by the Connecticut Fund for the Environment in PURA Docket 12-01-10, January 27, 2014.
- Letter from GCNH and URI to Two Storms Panel, December 21, 2011, urging balanced and comprehensive approach to achieving power reliability and preserving the benefits of roadside trees, including a focus on removal of hazardous trees and undergrounding of utility wires. Click to read Two Storms Panel Report (released January 9, 2012 by Governor Malloy).
- Letter to PURA Docket 12-01-10 from GCNH attaching letter to Two Storms Panel and Arbor Day Foundation Tree Line USA Standards, March 20, 2012.
- Letter to PURA Docket 12-01-10 from GCNH and URI, December 14, 2012
- Letter to PURA Docket 12-01-10 from GCNH and URI, February 7, 2013
- URI's Position on United Illuminating's Tree Trimming and Removal Plan, February, 2014