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October 24, 2018

Environmental groups, Hartford slam Airport Authority's tree-trimming plan

PHOTO | Contributed Hartford-Brainard Airport has seen declining activity over the past decade, but closing it for redevelopment wouldn't be cheap or quick.
By Joe Cooper

Environmental groups and the city of Hartford are raising questions about the Connecticut Airport Authority’s (CAA) handling of an environmental assessment that proposes to cut down 30 acres of trees at Brainard Airport.

In letters sent to CAA on Monday and Tuesday, Connecticut Fund for the Environment (CFE), The Nature Conservancy and the city slammed the authority’s recent handling of an environmental review, claiming it has numerous errors, omissions and lacks adequate environmental mitigation planning.

The letter also says CAA’s proposal to clear 30 acres of trees along the Connecticut River floodplain would result in a loss of habitat for endangered bald eagles and other species.

The city, which owns the parcel, says it has “been kept in the dark about details and timing of the project” and was not notified of the published environmental study until months after its release.

In a statement Wednesday, CAA said it “strongly disagrees” with the claims that it “lacked thoroughness or an opportunity for public input” as it took more than a year to complete the report.

CAA said it held a public information meeting and three public hearings regarding the assessment to “provide a fair opportunity for residents” to comment. Through these procedures, the authority says it has received hundreds of public remarks on the proposed tree removal.

CAA also said it had numerous discussions with Bronin’s office and provided further outreach in Dec. 2017. It says it also offered additional outreach before the report was finalized.

Katherine Fiedler, a legal fellow for CFE, said CAA’s environmental assessment and impact evaluation does not comply with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act, which aims to ensure comprehensive environmental review of projects for more informed decision-making.

“Before the CAA destroys acres of trees and riverfront habitat, it needs to engage with stakeholders to conduct a thorough environmental review and develop a plan to mitigate the damage,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement.

“We fully understand the importance of aviation safety and unobstructed airspace, but the CAA needs to take a much more thoughtful approach and show much greater concern for the environmental impact of its plan,” Bronin said.

The Nature Conservancy, an environmental group based in Virginia that holds an easement over a portion of the lot, said CAA’s evaluation confirms the proposal for tree clearing would impact the floodplain forest habitat.

The group has asked CAA and the city for additional meetings to develop a more detailed plan to minimize the environmental impact.

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