Bill To Rein In DOT Tree Removal

February 2, 2017

A bill that I have co-introduced to help control the tree removal work that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has been doing on our state highways is moving forward to a public hearing -- and I would ask you to please support it. This year, DOT intends to spend another $2 million removing trees, without any concrete plan for the removal of debris, and re-planting to prevent invasive species or ground erosion. This bill would require DOT to justify the work it is proposing before it is done, if it should be done at all.

The bill is HB 6123 and the public hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 8th at 2:00 in Hearing Room 2B at the Legislative Office Building.

If you would like to testify in support of this bill, sign-ups will begin at 8:30 on February 8th on the first floor of the Legislative Office Building. If you can't make it to the hearing you can submit a statement in support by emailing it to envtestimony@cga.ct.gov. Even a simple note, supporting the bill, would be helpful. Please reference the bill number, HB6123, in your email. Alternatively, you can also call the Environment Committee at (860) 240-0440.