Summary of 2013 Legislation on Trees & Tree Policies
Click here for a summary of new legislation that went into effect on July 1, 2013.
These provisions are contained in Section 60 of PA 13-298. That section of the law concerns trees, tree wardens, utility pruning and the rights of abutting property owners and involves some subtle shifts in the responsibilities of tree wardens regarding the zone around utility wires. This summary attempts to put into “plain English” the sometimes confusing language of statutes and laws.
Connecticut Light and Power Policy Regarding Utility Line Clearance and Town of Greenwich Ordinances:
- Greenwich residents require and deserve safe, reliable electrical service, but not at the expense of good arboriculture.
- The Tree Warden for the Town of Greenwich permits Northeast Utilities / CL&P to prune trees for the clearance of electrical utility lines but only to mutually agreed upon specifications that are strictly supervised by our Tree Department personnel.
- “6 Inch Rule” Regarding ‘Enhanced Tree Trimming’ (ETT) Pruning Along‘Backbone’ Circuits: The Town of Greenwich does not permit ‘ground to sky’ pruning for any utility line clearance maintenance. Town trees with limbs equal to or greater than 6 inches in diameter that are located more than or equal to 15 feet over electrical conductors on structurally strong wooded trees (Strong wooded trees include but may not be limited to: oaks, sugar maple, sycamore, London planetree, elms and hickories. The Tree Warden will have final decision as to what tree species are considered structurally strong wood). may remain if they are determined to be healthy and not structurally defective, split, decayed, poorly crotched, lion-tailed, or insect infested. These limbs shall remain and may be pruned to lighten their weight.
- If Northeast Utilities / CL&P desires to prune or remove Town trees, it is the responsibility of Northeast Utilities / CL&P or their contractor to contact the Tree Warden or Deputy Tree Warden and obtain written permission for the trees they want to prune or remove or the specific area they wish to work in.
- Tree Warden or Deputy Tree Warden must be notified each morning by phone, fax or email where crews will be working in Town.
- Any tree permitted for removal by the Tree Warden or Deputy Tree Warden shall be posted for a period of ten days and subject to a public hearing if contested. Any tree that is determined to be a ‘hazardous tree’ by the Tree Warden or Deputy Tree Warden may be removed without posting In accordance with CT General Statute Chp 450 Sec. 23-65 (a).
- Town trees designated to be pruned shall be considered a “light prune” as per Northeast Utilities / CL&P specifications.
- All tree work shall be done in conformance with ANSI A300 Standard Practices for tree pruning and ISA published ‘Tree Pruning Guidelines’.
- The Town of Greenwich understands the necessity of electrical transmission line protection and supports appropriate pruning of individual trees, leaving strong limbs and branches that are not in contact with electrical conducting lines. Tree pruning should be approached on a ‘tree by tree’ basis not as an indiscriminate application of predetermined spatial criteria. i.e. “Pruning Corridor” dimensions of 8 ft on either side, 15 ft. above and 10 ft. below distribution lines.
- Failure to follow the conditions of a permit shall be cause for the revocation of the permit.