Requires any utility company involved in a vegetation management plan to give prior notice to the local legislative body and residents of the affected community and

1 Co-sponsor

• Suzi Oppenheimer

BILL NUMBER:S7962C

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to authorizing the local legislative body of a municipality located in the county of Westchester to require any utility company involved in a vegetation management plan to give prior notice to the local legislative body and the residents of the affected community and to hold a public meeting prior to implementation of such plan

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends the general municipal law by adding a new subdivision 3 to empower the local legislative body of any county, city, town or village within the County of Westchester to enact a local law, rule or regulation to require any utility company involved in a vegetation management plan that specifically includes the trimming or cutting of trees and/or the elimination of overgrown vegetation in any county, city, town or village shall give 60 days' notice prior to such activity to the community affected thereby. The involved utility company shall hold a public meeting within the affected community at least 30 days prior to the implementation of such plan or activity, providing the residents of such community with the details of such trimming, cutting, and/or vegetation management plan, and providing residents with an opportunity to be heard with respect to such plan.

The legislation also allows for a utility company to not notify or hold public hearing in case of an emergency situation deemed to be a threat to public safety and welfare.

The legislation also sets forth penalties if any utility fails to notify and/or hold public hearing will be subject to a civil penalty which will result in a fine up to $5,000 for the first violation and up to $10,000 for two or more violations within a five year period.

This Section also states that these provisions shall not apply to any utility company that operates an interstate natural gas pipeline that is subject to the jurisdiction of the federal energy regulatory commission.

Section 2 is the immediate effective date.

Justification

Consistently for several years, Consolidated Edison, a utility regulated by the State's Public Service Department, as well as other utility companies in New York State, has repeatedly entered the process of what they deem to be necessary tree removal due to the proximity of overgrown trees near power lines in residential areas of Westchester County. However, many of the residents in communities of Yonkers, Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant, as well as many others, have been dissatisfied with the process from its incipiency. Many argued that far too many trees were removed yielding various consequences that could have been avoided had there been a mechanism for public input especially regarding site selection and the extent of the trimming.

These consequences include the creation of naked areas that leave sudden drop offs as well as the spread of branches and wood chips making child friendly areas potentially harmful. Additionally, the removal of trees along the New York State Thruway and Sprain Brook Parkway has caused an increase in noise and artificial light entering homes throughout the affected residential areas.

According to members of local environmental conservation groups, the trees in many of these affected areas served as protections to residents from natural processes such as flooding and erosion, which can lead to property damage and personal injury. Several homes have already experienced some of these results as water has run into basements and increased wind speeds have caused damage to several houses.

Legislative history

New Bill - 2010

Fiscal implications

None to the State.

Effective date

This bill will take effect immediately.