The general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission today requested a halt to construction around a centuries-old valley oak tree in San Mateo County while the agency considers alternatives to cutting it down.
In a letter to San Mateo County officials, SFPUC general Manager Ed Harrington said he has requested that an "avoidance area" be established around the tree that stands in a North Fair Oaks neighborhood, where the utilities agency is installing seismically reinforced pipeline to secure the safety of the Hetch Hetchy water delivery system.
Harrington, who said he is "personally evaluating" the situation, has directed the contractor to prepare two cost proposals: one that estimates the cost of boring a pipeline tunnel beneath the tree's roots, and one that considers cutting it down.
"I commit to you that the SFPUC will not direct the contractor to re-commence construction within the tree avoidance area before June 6, 2011," Harrington said in the letter.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We welcome your comments provided they are not Anonymous. Anonymous comments will not be posted.