NEWS RELEASE

July 11, 2007                                                               Contact:  Leg. Thomas Abinanti

                                                                                             Tel:  (914) 592-7100;tja3@westchestergov.com

ABINANTI CALLS FOR DOT TO STOP CUTTING TREES ON ROUTE 100A

Road-side Tree Removal Requires Review of Environmental, Aesthetic Impacts

County Legislator Thomas J. Abinanti (D, I, WF) today called on New York’s DOT to immediately stop cutting trees in Greenburgh.  “DOT is supposed to stand for Department of Transportation, not ‘Destroy Our Trees,’” said Abinanti.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is in the midst of a planned cutting down of hundreds of trees along the length of state road 100A, which runs north to south through much of Greenburgh.  Directed at trees along the road’s right-of-way, the tree removal by NYSDOT affects greenery and screening to which both drivers and residents are accustomed.

In telephone conversations and letters with NYSDOT officials, Abinanti asked for an immediate cessation of tree cutting until environmental impacts are properly assessed, as required by New York’s environmental review statute, SEQRA.  Likely impacts associated with NYSDOT’s actions on Route 100A include increased stormwater runoff and dramatically altered views.

“Protecting drivers does not mean decimating our environment.  Arborists, not engineers, should be determining which trees are coming down.  There should be community input on this action, and alternatives should be explored,” stated Abinanti.

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