On February 6, the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) published in the DC Register (51DCR1446, Feb 6, 2004), for a 30-day comment period, the proposed regulations implementing the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002. The draft regulations are also available on the Office of the Secretary’s web site (os.dc.gov., Office of Documents, D.C. Register).

After the comment period and approval by the Council, a permit will be needed before a property owner removes a non-hazardous tree with a circumference larger than 55 inches (at a height of 4.5 feet). The owner will be required to pay a fee of $35 per inch of circumference into a tree fund or plant saplings equal in circumference to the removed tree. The Urban Forestry Administration in DDOT will administer the law, including issuing the permit. Fines for violations will go to planting additional trees throughout the District.

Comments should go to Mariclaire McCartan, Department of Transportation, Urban Forestry Administration, 4901 Shepherd Parkway, SW, Washington, D.C. 20032, mariclaire.mccartan@dc.gov.

Contacts:
Bill Rice (DDOT): 202/671-2004; 202/437-7787/Cell