(The Center Square) — After an introductory meeting last month, Louisiana lawmakers are working on emergency solutions for an infestation of tree-killing beetles that could include an emergency declaration from Gov. Jeff Landry.
An intense drought last summer worsened an infestation of the Ips engraver beetle, leaving decaying trees barely standing in yards and roadsides all over Louisiana. These dead trees can fall on homes, roads and power lines and could be costly for the state’s forestry industry.
On Wednesday, the Emergency Beetle Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture met to further address the problem, specifically in terms of financials and legal ramifications of tree removal on private property. David Peterson from the Attorney General’s office gave three possible solutions to help solve these two issues: An emergency order, a statute, and written legislation.
Although an emergency order would have to be redone every 30 days by the governor, legislators felt like it was the best idea to quickly address the problem by forcing prioritization of funds and giving agencies power to conduct cutting on private property.
Louisiana Municipal Association executive director Barney Arceneaux said although an emergency order would provide authority, getting permission usually isn’t a problem.
“Nine times out of ten, and maybe we were just lucky, but the owner did not mind us coming and removing anything,” Arceneaux said.
In the case of roadside or public property, it is the Department of Transportation’s responsibility to ensure roads are not susceptible to falling trees. Chad Roubique with the DOTD says they have a representative in each parish drive around twice weekly and mark any trees considered an immediate danger. Besides that, any other possible dead trees would be put on a “when they get to it” priority list.
For tree removal, $4.245 million was appropriated for the districts last year. The DOTD spent $4.8 million last year to remove 80,000 trees, but forestry experts say that isn’t enough.
Roubique stated that it’s hard to prioritize dead trees because the agency’s resources are spread thin with grass cutting, pothole filling and bridge building.
Additionally, if a tree is on private property, the agency has to send a letter to the owner requesting they remove it. The department can’t take action, even if they know it will soon fall and affect a roadway nearby.
The chairman, Rep. Michael Johnson, R-Pineville, asked if making an emergency declaration would help show the DOTD what legislators’ priorities are. Roubique said in order to ensure real action, that declaration would have to come with some extra funding.
In the last meeting, Wade Dubea with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry estimated the per-tree removal cost at $1,200 to $1,500. That cost can double that if it’s hanging over a house and removal requires a crane.
The DOTD also said it doesn’t help that government tree removal is only funded by the state. Federal funding would require a disaster declaration.
For private owners who can’t afford it themselves, legislators asked if insurance companies can allow an option of slightly higher premiums in exchange for dead tree removal claims.
Officials from the state Department of Insurance said it’s very rare for an insurance company to cover fallen trees unless in the instance of a hurricane, so they are often not liable and therefore don’t have incentive to do such at this moment.
Jacques Thibodeaux with the governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness mentioned at the top of the meeting that the tropics are “cleared for the next seven days.”
As it relates to these trees, this means there isn’t an immediate worry of rotten lumber falling in the masses due to hurricane, but reminded everybody that’s only for now.
“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when. They’re coming down,” Johnson said.
