MARTINEZ - The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors said today that they will need more details from PG&E before the utility moves forward with a proposal to remove hundreds of trees from county property as part of a larger tree and vegetation removal plan to boost access to its gas pipeline network.

The board was the latest government entity to hear from PG&E about its controversial Pipeline Pathway Project, which in recent months has angered and concerned some East Bay residents and city leaders who say PG&E cannot unilaterally cut down trees.

The public indignation over the proposal has prompted PG&E to slow down the plan and utility officials have agreed not to cut down any trees before reaching agreements with cities and counties.

However, utility officials say removing vegetation and even some small structures such as free-standing garages over the utility's gas pipeline is essential for public safety - one of PG&E's top priorities in the wake of the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion that killed 8 people and damaged some three dozen homes.

PG&E Vice President Kirk Johnson addressed the Board of Supervisors at its meeting in Martinez today about the dangers trees and their roots pose to the pipeline.

Johnson said that for decades, the utility has been "too customer-friendly," allowed property owners to plant trees too close to the pipeline and has been lax on reinforcing previously existing guidelines about planting trees above the pipeline.

Now, he said, PG&E has seen that "tree roots have the ability to interfere with the safety and protection of our pipeline from external corrosion -- corrosion impacts the integrity of the pipeline."

In addition, trees situated just above the pipeline make it difficult for workers to access and maintain the line and check for any safety issues, he said.

Still, PG&E officials have pledged to slow the five-year, $500 million tree removal plan until they have inked agreements with the cities, counties and private property owners involved.

"It will take a while to get there but this is what we would like to see to eliminate the risk," he said.

View post:
PG&E presents case for controversial tree removal plan to Contra Costa County supervisors

The city of Cupertino's quest to protect certain mature trees will continue well into 2014.

The Cupertino City Council held a two-hour study session on April 15 regarding plans to update the city's protected tree ordinance. City staff will now work on a draft ordinance amendment, which could then be presented to the planning commission and then to the council later this year.

Since 2012, the city and the five-member council have been working routinely on tinkering with how the city and residents interact with public and protected trees. The city is aiming to amend the protected tree ordinance, which could include streamlining the process for removing protected trees, updating the list of specimen trees, the tree replacement process, and mitigation for tree removals.

There has been a renewed interest in Cupertino's trees over the past two years. In March 2013, the council amended the city's tree ordinance to clarify references to public street trees and to modify penalties from a misdemeanor to infraction for cutting a public tree. The council also directed city staff to review the specimen tree list and to include only native trees and remove non-native trees from the list. In December, the planning commission gave its initial thoughts on a protected tree ordinance update.

On April 15, the council directed staff to explore not requiring mitigation fees or replacement plantings for removing trees up to a certain size. The council also wanted more information about mitigation costs for certain types of trees and about certain trees' water consumption.

Penalties for illegal tree removal require the payment of a retroactive fee of $3,128 per tree, which contributes to the city's tree planting fund. The city's consulting arborists have indicated the penalty is based on the tree's age, aesthetics, size, cost and environmental quality, according to a city staff report.

The specimen tree list currently includes California Buckeye, Bigleaf Maple, Deodar Cedar, Blue Atlas Cedar, and Western Sycamore. The Bay Laurel or California Bay is being considered for removal due to issues regarding structural integrity, decline, safety and likelihood of hosting sudden oak death, according to a city staff report. The Douglas Fir is up for consideration as an addition to the list.

The ordinance defines mature specimen trees as having a minimum single-trunk diameter of 10 inches or minimum multi-trunk diameter of 20 inches measured 4 feet from natural grade. Staff is recommending decreasing the diameter requirement to 12 inches, according to a city staff report.

For information about the tree ordinance, visit cupertino.org/treeord.

Read the original:
Cupertino officials continue talks on updating city's protected tree ordinance

Quick links to other pages on this site | Still can't find it? see Site Index

Businesses cutting trees in Dorchester County will now have the option to pay for the county to replace them rather than doing it themselves.

Dorchester County Council unanimously approved a "Fee in Lieu of Planting Trees Requirement for Mitigation" ordinance at its meeting Monday.

The fee will allow businesses an alternative method for mitigating tree removal during the construction process. And it will give the county some leeway in where to replant trees.

Previously, if a property developer cut down a protected tree during construction he was required to replant a tree on the property as mitigation.

The motion to adopt the fee was one of three changes in the county's tree protection policy.

At the April 7 council meeting, the Planning, Development and Building Committee voted to amend the current Zoning and Land Development Standards section under the Tree and Canopy Protection Standards, to loosen restrictions on single family residences and tighten restrictions on developers.

As a part of changing developers' restrictions, the updated ordinance implements a new "tree bank" system as part of its Tree Planting Plan.

According to the plan, when a developer cuts down a protected tree and does not replant as mitigation, the developer will be charged a fee. The fees will be deposited into the tree bank account to be used only for replacing trees in public county spaces.

Protected trees are 15 inches or greater in diameter at breast height.

See original here:
Cutting trees to cost Dorchester County developers per inch

My tree is dangerous due to weakness and ill health

Your trees safety can be compromised due to many things such as storm damage, pest and disease activity, or growth abnormality. Correct and timely Tree Pruning by an arborist can prevent eventual takedown being necessary but by this point it is often too late. As valuable as trees are we believe your safety and security has to come first. As a qualified arborist we are trained to recognise weakness due to many different causes and can let you know if taking your tree down is the only option.

In older suburbs such as North Shore Sydney, this is a common problem. We understand that sometimes you are left with a tree planting problem caused by whoever owned your property before you. Lifting pathways, driveways and broken water pipes are just some of the damage you might be experiencing if the wrong type of tree was planted in the wrong location. Act now before the problems get even bigger. Tree lopping or tree removal may be your only solution.

Be proactive! As an arborist our knowledge of trees means that we can predict how big your tree can grow. This means that we are able to offer an expert opinion to council and any other interested parties as to the potential for future problems both above and below ground.

Thats our job. We are familiar with dealing with council regulations, especially in the North Shore Sydney area, and will guide you through the process of correctly completing the requested paperwork when it is needed. We will do the paperwork for you.

Generally every council has a list of trees that require special permission for work to be carried out. This is called their Tree Preservation Order. This does vary from council to council as different trees are considered pests in some areas and not others.

Many people dont realise that there is a lot more that can be done for a problem tree than just take it down. We provide a range of tree services to North Shore Sydney including, tree lopping and tree pruning as well as a variety of other arborist services. Our qualified arborist can give you some other options. Let us come and see how we can help. We service all suburbs of Sydney and are located in North Shore Sydney.

Read more:
ree Removal | Tree Removals | Tree Lopping | North Shore ...

Takoma Tree Experts LLC. offers professional and high quality arboriculture at reasonable prices. We've been in business for 25 years and have a solid reputation throughout the Washington DC metro area, and retain many of our original customers. We have all applicable licenses and certifications, as well as workmen's compensation and liability insurance-all at well above the minimum requirements.

Our business philosophy and mission statement is simple: treat the customer right, do the work as promised, be reliable and consistent and adhere to all professional industry standards, guidelines and ethics. After all, according to some business expert's it's 8 times more costly and expensive in terms of advertising dollar, and other associated costs to find a new customer than it is to keep and retain an existing one.

With that in mind we make sure all of our customers are completely satisfied so that they return to us for all their tree care needs time after time. It's a win-win situation: you, the customer don't need to shop every time you need a tree service- or if you want to refer one to a friend or neighbor with total confidence; and we in turn keep expanding our customer base and retain our most valuable asset, our customers.

It's also why we strive to maintain a Better Business Bureau A+ rating; it can be difficult to pick the right contractor-in any trade, not just the tree business, and knowing more about your contractors reputation and track record, not less can help when comparing companies and bids.

Surf through our website, and contact us either through the customer information form, which sends an e-mail directly to an estimator, or call us-you're assured of a quick, courteous response. We provide free written estimates, 24 hour emergency service, and professional, advice and service.

See the article here:
Takoma Tree Experts, LLC. | Tree Removal Services; pruning ...

GOSHEN A significant tree removal project is in the works for a section of Westwood Road near IU Health Goshen Hospital. Exactly when the trees will be removed, however, has yet to be determined.

John Stout, supervisor of forestry operations for the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, recently reported that as many as 12 trees along Westwood Road from Main Street down to the Goshen Cancer Center have been slated for removal due to concerns about overhanging power lines in the area.

Weve talked to the property owners, talked to the city planning department, the city forester... Everybodys aware of whats happening, Stout said during a phone interview Friday afternoon. The trees are tall-growing species that were planted directly underneath the lines that service the hospital, and are incompatible with the site.

Joe Dervin, a resident of the Historic Racemere Peninsula Neighborhood located adjacent to the hospital, said he noticed several months ago that the trees along Westwood Road had red dots painted on their trucks. Having worked for the NIPSCO company for 35 years, he said he knew immediately what those little red marks meant.

Its unfortunate, because theyre nice trees, Dervin said Friday. But I realize its also a main feeder into the hospital, and that has to be maintained. ... I knew the time was probably coming that they were going to take them out. People love their trees, and I do too, but there comes a time when sometimes they need to be taken down.

Dervin, who serves as president of the Historic Racemere Peninsula Neighborhood Association, had his suspicions confirmed by Mark Podgorski, vice president of hospital operations for IU Health Goshen Hospital, who informed Dervin of NIPSCOs plans. Dervin in turn sent the information on to the other members of the neighborhood association.

Link:
A dozen trees on hospital property are set for removal

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Piedmont tree experts said removing a tree from a home in South Park is one of the toughest jobs they've seen.

Since Saturday, they've gone to more than half a dozen calls across Charlotte.

They say older, large trees can easily fall with heavy rain and high winds.

Eyewitness News reporter Paige Hansen sent pictures Monday morning from Topping Place, near Park Road. No one was hurt when a tree crashed down.

Tree removal experts said with more rain on the way, they expect to stay busy this week. Tonight on Eyewitness News starting at 5 p.m. Hansen will have the steps you can take to protect your family and home.

Read more top stories from WSOC-TV:

Police seize 14 dogs from home, owner charged

Police investigating after man shot, killed in Concord

16-year-old survives in wheel well of Maui flight

See the original post:
High winds, heavy rain cause trees to fall around Charlotte

Tree removal 4
via YouTube Capture.

By: Shook #39;s tree service removal

See the rest here:
Tree removal 4 - Video

Dump container slide line - Tree rigging - Tree removal - Topkapning - Trfldning
Arborist Service ApS Tel. 22 77 06 08 Trfldning Fyn Topkapning Fyn Trfldning Odense Topkapning Odense Topkapper Se flere film fra trtoppen: ...

By: Soren Satellit

See the article here:
Dump container slide line - Tree rigging - Tree removal - Topkapning - Trfldning - Video

Tree removal, Murphy style, version 2.0

By: mercenaryhawk

See the rest here:
Tree removal, Murphy style, version 2.0 - Video