1. (a) Not later than August 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop, finalize and publish on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Internet web site a hazardous tree mitigation policy that shall apply to the designation, removal and mitigation of trees located in state parks and campgrounds that are determined to be hazardous by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Such policy shall include criteria for the designation of a tree as hazardous by the department and the scope of applicability for procedures for such designation, removal and mitigation, including, but not limited to, (1) department consultation of a licensed arborist prior to the designation and removal or mitigation of any such hazardous tree; (2) advance notification to the public of the department's hazardous tree removal activities, including, but not limited to, signage and publication of information on the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Internet web site; and (3) consideration of replanting and other relevant improvements to offset the aesthetic or ecological value provided by any hazardous tree that is removed. Such policy shall also include provisions for:

   1. (A) The maintenance of public safety, (B) ecological and natural resource protection, (C) practices for transparency and public engagement in the process of such designation, removal and mitigation, (D) effective stewardship of department resources, (E) public access to outdoor recreation, (F) fire suppression or protection efforts, (G) state park maintenance and repairs, (H) decorative pruning, (I) trail maintenance, (J) post-storm impact mitigation or clean-up, and (K) removal of invasive species. For the purposes of this section, “arborist” has the same meaning as provided in section 23-61a.
2. (b) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall implement a tree replanting demonstration project at Housatonic Meadows State Park, in consultation with state park or forest advocacy groups or organizations.
3. (c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment on state park and campground tree replanting strategies for removed hazardous trees and any associated funding needs.

(P.A. 22-143, S. 17.)

History: P.A. 22-143 effective May 31, 2022.