Storm taskforce to share recommendations with public Aug. 13

The State Vegetation Management Task Force will host two listening sessions from 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 13 regarding the its draft findings and recommendations.

The session will take place at the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s headquarters office at 79 Elm St., Hartford. The purpose of the meetings is to give the public the chance to provide input for the task force’s final report. The meeting will include an overview of the recommendations by Eric Hammerling, head of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and chairman of the task force.

The task force was convened by DEEP Commissioner Daniel Esty at the recommendation of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Two Storm Panel, which in turn was formed in response to Tropical Storm Irene and the October Nor’easter. The final report of the task force is due at the end of August, on the anniversary of Tropical Storm Irene.

Twenty people with expertise in a field related to roadside trees comprise the group, which has been assigned the responsibility of producing standards and guidelines regarding management of the trees along Connecticut's roadsides.

The draft recommendations will be available at www.ct.gov/deep/forestry on or before 5 p.m. Monday. Comments and suggestions will be accepted through Aug. 14 via email at: DEEP.Forestry@ct.gov or via regular email at: State Vegetation Management Task Force; c/o Division of Forestry; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; 79 Elm St.; Hartford, CT 06106.

Free parking for the public is available after 3 p.m. at the State Office Building Lot on Capitol Avenue. For further information, call (860) 424-3630.