PAST INFORMATION, NOTICES AND NEWS
(Last updated: September 15, 2015)
(Last updated: September 15, 2015)
54 trees to be cut down on Hogan Road in Hamden, New Haven Register, September 8, 2015
Trees removed in North Haven to prevent power outages being replaced, New Haven Register, August 5, 2015
Randall Beach: Public Discourse not quick chopping, is the way to go on possible tree removal. New Haven Register, July 9, 2015.
Randall Beach: Public Discourse not quick chopping, is the way to go on possible tree removal. New Haven Register, July 9, 2015.
PURA Final Decision: Report to General Assembly on Utility Vegetation Management Practices, June 17, 2015 PURA required the utilities to bring their notices to property owners into compliance with explicit statutory requirements now. However, the decision allows the utilities to ask tree wardens for permits to prune or remove trees according to rigid line clearance standards, such as ETT, without evaluating and specifying which trees need to be pruned or removed (often referred to as a "blanket permit"). PURA recognized the authority of tree wardens to require evaluation and justification of pruning and removal by the utilities prior to issuing permits and to otherwise regulate such work, but, if a tree warden does not exercise his/her authority, it falls to property owners alone to object or request a modification. If some property owners in a community do not understand the loss of benefits, including reduced property values, that unnecessary removal of mature trees can cause, all property owners will be harmed. NOTE: Tree wardens should post trees that they have approved or may approve for removal and under this procedure any person can object and ask for a hearing before the tree warden.
Randall Beach: Know your rights when it comes to saving trees and keep watch, New Haven Register, May 15, 2015
UI tree-trimming efforts under scrutiny, New Haven Register, April 7, 2015
UI to begin pilot tree trimming/removal program in Fairfield, Minuteman News Center, March 27, 2015
Public Hearing in Docket No. 14-07-18 (vegetation management practices), April 1, 2015 AT 10:30 am at PURA, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. Testimony and submissions in this docket will be the basis for PURA's report to the CT General Assembly's Energy and Technology Committee on United Illuminating and Eversource (formerly CL&P) vegetation management practices. These practices include compliance with the notice and other procedures established by law to allow property owners, tree wardens and Department of Transportation representatives to participate in decisions about utility pruning and removal of trees, and the actual conduct of pruning and removal work.
According to the recently appointed Executive Secretary, Jeffrey R. Gaudiosi, Esq., the public may speak at the beginning of the hearing. The public may also send letters to PURA until the end of the hearing (see below). For additional information, see Notice of Hearing, and links provided under "New Dockets . . . " below.
All communications to PURA on this docket should specifically reference Docket No. 14-07-18, and should be addressed to Jeffrey R. Gaudiosi, Esq. Executive Secretary of PURA. You may send a letter via e-mail to PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov and/or Jeff.Gaudiosi@ct.gov or via USPS to PURA, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. [Note: Mr. Gaudiosi replaces Nicholas Neeley, who served as Acting Executive Director of PURA.]
According to the recently appointed Executive Secretary, Jeffrey R. Gaudiosi, Esq., the public may speak at the beginning of the hearing. The public may also send letters to PURA until the end of the hearing (see below). For additional information, see Notice of Hearing, and links provided under "New Dockets . . . " below.
All communications to PURA on this docket should specifically reference Docket No. 14-07-18, and should be addressed to Jeffrey R. Gaudiosi, Esq. Executive Secretary of PURA. You may send a letter via e-mail to PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov and/or Jeff.Gaudiosi@ct.gov or via USPS to PURA, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. [Note: Mr. Gaudiosi replaces Nicholas Neeley, who served as Acting Executive Director of PURA.]
New Dockets on Vegetation Management Plans ("VMPs"): Docket No. 14-07-18 has been opened in order to comply with Public Act 14-151, which requires PURA to report to the Energy and Technology Committee of the CT General Assembly regarding its review of UI and Eversource (formerly CL&P) vegetation management practices. Click for the proposed Time Schedule for this docket. The plans have been submitted in this docket and also in Docket No. 14-12-28, which was opened in compliance with Section 16-32g of the general statutes. Section 16-32g requires annual submission of electric distribution company vegetation management plans to PURA. Click for CL&P VMP and UI VMP. The VMPs continue to seek removal of non-hazardous trees within the Utility Protection Zone, putting the burden on tree wardens and property owners to object or seek a modification in order to ensure that unnecessary removals do not take place. UI has, however, modified its VMP to provide that it will use directional pruning (as it used in the past) if removal will not occur. Both plans now provide data on objections, requests for modification and tree warden rulings.
See Protect Trees On or Abutting your Property for information about your rights as a property owner and how you can protect your trees from unnecessary pruning or removal.
See Protect Trees On or Abutting your Property for information about your rights as a property owner and how you can protect your trees from unnecessary pruning or removal.
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PURA Filings, Orders and Decisions
(reverse chronology): Note: Although PURA did not rule on compliance with the orders in its Final Decision of June 25, 2014 (see below), it has asked Eversource (formerly CL&P) and United Illuminating to respond to the joint comments in connection with Docket No. 14-07-18 (see above). Notice Requirements: Further joint comments re: compliance with notice requirements in response to UI and CL&P submissions in response to Order No. 8 of the Final Decision, December 4, 2014. Order No. 8 required the utilities to : "provide proof of inclusion of the information required by PA 14-151 in their respective notices for vegetation management activities." Comments re: compliance with notice requirements by UI and CL&P, filed by Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, and Garden Club of New Haven, August 11, 2014. Modification of Vegetation Management Plans (VMP): Comments of Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Connecticut Fund for the Environment and Garden Club of New Haven , July 24, 2014 re: UI submission and CL&P submission in response to Order No. 1 of the Final Decision requiring modification of their VMP). Original 2014 CL&P VMP and UI VMP. Summary and Comments on the PURA Final Decision PURA Final Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10 PURA Press Release re: Final Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10 (See news accounts below) At the Oral Arguments on Written Exceptions on June 10, 2014, PURA announced that it would issue a Final Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10 on June 25. Commissioner Betkoski made clear that PURA would fully comply with Public Act 14-151 and ensure that the utilities do so. Based on its preliminary review of the Written Exceptions, he announced changes that had already been made in the Revised Draft Decision. The Garden Club of New Haven filed Exceptions to the Revised Draft Decision on June 6, and made Oral Argument on June 10. PURA released its Revised Draft Decision in its tree trimming docket, 12-01-10, on May 30, 2014. Click PURA Docket No. 12-01-10 for background information. |
Summary and Comments on and
Highlights of the PURA Final Decision The Final Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10, Tree Trimming, issued June 25, 2014) made significant improvements in its original draft decision of November 19, 2013 and reflected the changes in the law made by Public Act 14-151. PURA must, of course, comply with all relevant state statutes.
Summary and Comments on the PURA Final Decision Brief Highlights of the Final Decision:
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LEGISLATION: Governor Malloy Signed Public Act 14-151 (HB 5408) on June 6 (announced June 9) .
The CT Senate passed amended HB 5408 on May 7 unanimously (with one absence). The bill had passed the House on May 2. Click for summary of the bill. It amends laws governing utility tree pruning and removal to help ensure better protections of street/roadside trees and trees on private property. Now known as Public Act 14-151, with the Governor's signature, it takes effect immediately. Click Legislative Actions for background information. For information about all laws now applicable to utility tree pruning and removal in Connecticut, see Summary of CT Law on Utility Vegetation Management and
Flow Chart of Legal Requirements for Utility Vegetation Management.
The CT Senate passed amended HB 5408 on May 7 unanimously (with one absence). The bill had passed the House on May 2. Click for summary of the bill. It amends laws governing utility tree pruning and removal to help ensure better protections of street/roadside trees and trees on private property. Now known as Public Act 14-151, with the Governor's signature, it takes effect immediately. Click Legislative Actions for background information. For information about all laws now applicable to utility tree pruning and removal in Connecticut, see Summary of CT Law on Utility Vegetation Management and
Flow Chart of Legal Requirements for Utility Vegetation Management.
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE (from March 2o14, most recent first):
[See *'ed item below, dated earlier, but added later.]
Upcoming CL&P tree removal and pruning in Glastonbury, Hartford Courant, August 14, 2014
UI Prepares to Axe 35 East Rock Trees, New Haven Independent, July 17, 2014
Hamden’s new tree commission in place, New Haven Register, July 11, 2014
Randall Beach: Cheers for saving trees. . . , New Haven Register, July 4, 2014
Tree Ruling Protects Against Overzealous Trimming, Hartford Courant (editorial), July 2, 2014
Connecticut Fund for the Environment at odds with PURA ruling, New Haven Register, June 27, 2014
PURA Issues Final Decision on Tree Trimming, WNPR, June 26, 2014
Connecticut residents get more say on UI, CL&P tree trimming, New Haven Register, June 25, 2014
Final Review Of Tree Trimming Requires Utilities To Be More Flexible, Hartford Courant, June 25, 2014
Connecticut regulators delay action on tree-trimming rules, New Haven Register, June 11, 2014
Utility tree trimming rules being finalized, WTNH.com, June 10, 2014
Randall Beach: Maybe our kids can get the state to save our trees, New Haven Register, June 6, 2014
UI, CL&P Tree Trimming: Residents get greater appeal power, but say ruling falls short , New Haven Register, May 30, 2014
North Haven residents question UI’s tree-trimming plan, New Haven Register, May 28, 2014
Impact of UI tree-trimming program on town beauty, budget questioned, Fairfield Citizen, May 28, 2014 [identical article published in CT Post]
Hamden council approves establishment of tree commission, New Haven Register, May 28, 2014
Video of UI's presentation on its plans, including answers to questions by residents and public officials in Fairfield at Fairfield UI Meeting, May 27, 2014, Fair TV.
Essex Tree Appeal Ends With A Light Trim, The Hartford Courant, May 27, 2014
Interview of Mikey Hirschoff of GCNH by Melinda Tuhus re: passage of HB 5408, The Forest and the Trees, WPKN, May 21, 7:30 pm. [clip continues to interview of Nancy Alderman re: moratorium on fracking waste and discussion of other environmental bills]
West Haven residents voice concerns over UI’s tree-trimming plan, New Haven Register, May 21, 2014
West Haven public gets chance to sound off at Tree Commission meeting on UI tree-trim plan, New Haven Register, May 20, 2014
Connecticut regulators to have preliminary ruling on tree-trimming plans by end of month, New Haven Register, May 13, 2014
Bill would give Connecticut property owners more power in tree-trimming process, New Haven Register, May 9. 2014 [Description of law in article appears to be based on earlier version of bill that was not enacted. See Summary of Amended HB 5408 for accurate summary.]
Connecticut passes new rules for tree-trimming, New Haven Register (AP), May 7, 2014
Connecticut regulators postpone ruling on utilities' tree trimming efforts, New Haven Register, April 30, 2014
Regulators Put Tree Trimming Investigation On Hold As Legislation Waits in House, Hartford Courant, April 30, 2014
CL&P, UConn work together for better storm preparedness, New Haven Register, April 29, 2014
UI initiative focuses on pole condition, New Haven Register, April 28, 2014
Governor Malloy and DEEP Commissioner Klee In Studio, April 28, 2014 interview by John Dankofsky, WNPR [Scroll down to Listen. Forward to 17:47 to listen to statements re: need for balance to protect benefits of street trees and more.]
Connecticut regulators expected to issue ruling on utilities’ tree-trimming plan within days, New Haven Register, April 22, 2014 [includes report on New Haven/West Haven League of Women Voters meeting with UI representatives on April 22]
*Stop the Connecticut Chain-Saw Massacre, Editorial: The Connecticut Law Tribune, April 21, 2014
Regulators see effects of tree trimming program firsthand, New Haven Register, April 11, 2014 [Note: This was a PURA site visit in CL&P territory. An earlier site visit in UI territory on April 3, 2014 was not reported in the press.]
Editorial: UI, CL&P must take care when cutting trees, New Haven Register, April 9, 2014
A new take on tree debate, Editorial, The Westerly Sun, April 4, 2014
Spreading the word that trees, utility lines can live in harmony, The Westerly Sun, April 3, 2014
[GCNH talk in Stonington]
Milford Meeting with UI Representatives, New Haven Register, April 2, 2014.
Power companies, landowners seek tree trimming ruling, WFSB, Channel 3, March 27, 2014.
CL&P, UI balk at bearing expense of tree trimming alone, New Haven Register, March 27, 2014.
Saving, Cutting Trees on Mares Hill Road [Essex], The Day, March 26, 2014. [Public hearing]
Preserving Street Trees, by Christopher Wigren, Connecticut Preservation News, March/April, 2014.
Hartford Courant Editorial, March 20, 2014 [erroneously states that ETT is suspended]
*Out on a limb: Selectmen question cost, impact of UI tree-removal plan, CT Post, March 20, 2014 [Fairfield]
Tree-Targeting UI Buys $15K Of Green PR, New Haven Independent, March 19, 2014
Bill would snip tree trimming, CT Post, March 18, 2014. See Legislative Proposals for text of bill.
Connecticut utilities power line “protection zones” pre-emptively destroy trees, Free Speech Radio News (Melinda Tuhus), March 4, 2014
[See *'ed item below, dated earlier, but added later.]
Upcoming CL&P tree removal and pruning in Glastonbury, Hartford Courant, August 14, 2014
UI Prepares to Axe 35 East Rock Trees, New Haven Independent, July 17, 2014
Hamden’s new tree commission in place, New Haven Register, July 11, 2014
Randall Beach: Cheers for saving trees. . . , New Haven Register, July 4, 2014
Tree Ruling Protects Against Overzealous Trimming, Hartford Courant (editorial), July 2, 2014
Connecticut Fund for the Environment at odds with PURA ruling, New Haven Register, June 27, 2014
PURA Issues Final Decision on Tree Trimming, WNPR, June 26, 2014
Connecticut residents get more say on UI, CL&P tree trimming, New Haven Register, June 25, 2014
Final Review Of Tree Trimming Requires Utilities To Be More Flexible, Hartford Courant, June 25, 2014
Connecticut regulators delay action on tree-trimming rules, New Haven Register, June 11, 2014
Utility tree trimming rules being finalized, WTNH.com, June 10, 2014
Randall Beach: Maybe our kids can get the state to save our trees, New Haven Register, June 6, 2014
UI, CL&P Tree Trimming: Residents get greater appeal power, but say ruling falls short , New Haven Register, May 30, 2014
North Haven residents question UI’s tree-trimming plan, New Haven Register, May 28, 2014
Impact of UI tree-trimming program on town beauty, budget questioned, Fairfield Citizen, May 28, 2014 [identical article published in CT Post]
Hamden council approves establishment of tree commission, New Haven Register, May 28, 2014
Video of UI's presentation on its plans, including answers to questions by residents and public officials in Fairfield at Fairfield UI Meeting, May 27, 2014, Fair TV.
Essex Tree Appeal Ends With A Light Trim, The Hartford Courant, May 27, 2014
Interview of Mikey Hirschoff of GCNH by Melinda Tuhus re: passage of HB 5408, The Forest and the Trees, WPKN, May 21, 7:30 pm. [clip continues to interview of Nancy Alderman re: moratorium on fracking waste and discussion of other environmental bills]
West Haven residents voice concerns over UI’s tree-trimming plan, New Haven Register, May 21, 2014
West Haven public gets chance to sound off at Tree Commission meeting on UI tree-trim plan, New Haven Register, May 20, 2014
Connecticut regulators to have preliminary ruling on tree-trimming plans by end of month, New Haven Register, May 13, 2014
Bill would give Connecticut property owners more power in tree-trimming process, New Haven Register, May 9. 2014 [Description of law in article appears to be based on earlier version of bill that was not enacted. See Summary of Amended HB 5408 for accurate summary.]
Connecticut passes new rules for tree-trimming, New Haven Register (AP), May 7, 2014
Connecticut regulators postpone ruling on utilities' tree trimming efforts, New Haven Register, April 30, 2014
Regulators Put Tree Trimming Investigation On Hold As Legislation Waits in House, Hartford Courant, April 30, 2014
CL&P, UConn work together for better storm preparedness, New Haven Register, April 29, 2014
UI initiative focuses on pole condition, New Haven Register, April 28, 2014
Governor Malloy and DEEP Commissioner Klee In Studio, April 28, 2014 interview by John Dankofsky, WNPR [Scroll down to Listen. Forward to 17:47 to listen to statements re: need for balance to protect benefits of street trees and more.]
Connecticut regulators expected to issue ruling on utilities’ tree-trimming plan within days, New Haven Register, April 22, 2014 [includes report on New Haven/West Haven League of Women Voters meeting with UI representatives on April 22]
*Stop the Connecticut Chain-Saw Massacre, Editorial: The Connecticut Law Tribune, April 21, 2014
Regulators see effects of tree trimming program firsthand, New Haven Register, April 11, 2014 [Note: This was a PURA site visit in CL&P territory. An earlier site visit in UI territory on April 3, 2014 was not reported in the press.]
Editorial: UI, CL&P must take care when cutting trees, New Haven Register, April 9, 2014
A new take on tree debate, Editorial, The Westerly Sun, April 4, 2014
Spreading the word that trees, utility lines can live in harmony, The Westerly Sun, April 3, 2014
[GCNH talk in Stonington]
Milford Meeting with UI Representatives, New Haven Register, April 2, 2014.
Power companies, landowners seek tree trimming ruling, WFSB, Channel 3, March 27, 2014.
CL&P, UI balk at bearing expense of tree trimming alone, New Haven Register, March 27, 2014.
Saving, Cutting Trees on Mares Hill Road [Essex], The Day, March 26, 2014. [Public hearing]
Preserving Street Trees, by Christopher Wigren, Connecticut Preservation News, March/April, 2014.
Hartford Courant Editorial, March 20, 2014 [erroneously states that ETT is suspended]
*Out on a limb: Selectmen question cost, impact of UI tree-removal plan, CT Post, March 20, 2014 [Fairfield]
Tree-Targeting UI Buys $15K Of Green PR, New Haven Independent, March 19, 2014
Bill would snip tree trimming, CT Post, March 18, 2014. See Legislative Proposals for text of bill.
Connecticut utilities power line “protection zones” pre-emptively destroy trees, Free Speech Radio News (Melinda Tuhus), March 4, 2014