A hearings officer for the city of Portland has approved Portland General Electric’s plan to upgrade transmission lines at the northern end of Forest Park, a project that will require cutting down 376 trees and filling two wetlands in an area that’s home to the northern red-legged frog, an at-risk species.

After hearing arguments in January, Portland General Electric is moving forward with their plan to remove nearly 400 trees in Forest Park to help ensure stable electricity and mitigate wildfire risks in the area.

Portland General Electric (PGE) has the green light from a city hearings officer to go ahead with a plan to build a new utility project in Forest Park. The decision puts Portland’s Hearings Office at odds with several of the city’s bureaus,