| 28 | 28 | | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, one hundred twenty days prior to undertaking any tree removal along any limited access highway, as described in section 13b-27 of the general statutes, in the state, the Department of Transportation shall submit a plan for such removal to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, and to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Such plan shall: (1) Detail the proposed areas scheduled for tree removal, (2) state the time frame for such work, (3) include the amount of funds allocated by the Department of Transportation for such work, (4) following consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, detail the environmental impact of the proposed tree removal, including, but not limited to, consideration of erosion and the growth of invasive species, (5) state the distance such department intends to clear in such proposed areas, (6) provide for the removal of debris created by the proposed tree removal, and (7) require planting of noninvasive species to replace the removed trees, as recommended by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Prior to the implementation of such plan, the Department of Transportation shall have such plan reviewed and approved by a licensed arborist if the services of such a licensed arborist are available from a licensed arborist who is employed at either the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Department of Transportation. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to apply to the removal of any damaged or dead tree or group of trees when such damaged or dead tree or group of trees constitutes an immediate public hazard, as determined by the Commissioner of Transportation or said commissioner's designee. |
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