Chico residents are both proud and protective of their trees. Representatives of Pacific Gas & Electric Company heard that message loud and clear at a public forum last night, but it may not make a difference.
At issue are 86 trees along a mile-long stretch of 60-year-old natural gas transmission line traversing part of Chico. PG&E, which has a narrow easement around the pipeline, flagged the trees as part of safety efforts following the deadly San Bruno explosion.
Acknowledging an outcry and backlash following the removal of more than 200 trees in Oroville, PG&E Government Relations Representative Joe Wilson said the company has a new tack.
“We’ve made changes to this program to ensure that we are looking closely at each and every tree that is near the pipeline,” Wilson said.
The company pared the number of problem trees down to 33. PG&E said it would plant or pay to plant and maintain up to three saplings for each mature tree removed. The trade-off didn’t satisfy about a dozen critics who railed against the plan.
Despite the hearing, the final decision may be out of the public’s hands. PG&E maintains that the 1950s-era easement gives it full authority. Chico’s city attorney agrees.
But attorney and neighbor Richard Harriman sharply disagrees. Under his reading, the city has the final say. Harriman called on officials to contact a law firm in Oakland that he said has prevailed against PG&E in similar cases for other cities.
That was essentially the point made by Bill Bynum, of Save Oroville Trees, who unsuccessfully fought PG&E last year.
“They say they have the authority to do whatever they want, they don’t,” Bynum said.
