(a) Each electric distribution company, as defined in § 16-1, shall submit a utilities pesticide management plan to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for approval with the concurrence of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. A plan shall be revised at such time as the electric distribution company filing the plan or the commissioner determines provided such plan shall be revised not less than once every five years.

(b) Any electric distribution company, as defined in § 16-1, telephone company, as defined in § 16-1, or telecommunications company, as defined in § 16-1, which provides for the application of a pesticide within a right-of-way maintained by such company shall ensure that owners, occupants or tenants of buildings or dwellings that are located on property which abuts such right-of-way, or property within which such right-of-way lies, are notified at least forty-eight hours prior to the application. Notice may be made by any method, including telephone, mail or personal notification. Any such company which provides for the application of pesticides in connection with removal of trees or brush from private property shall obtain the consent of the owner, occupant or tenant of such property prior to the application. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 23-65, any such company which provides for the application of pesticides to any utility pole, after it has been installed, for purposes of maintaining, preserving or extending the useful life of the pole shall post notice of such application on each such pole.

(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 setting forth the contents of a pesticide management plan. Such regulations shall include provisions for the on-site posting of a notice of a pesticide application. A notice required by such regulations may be posted at the time of or after the application, provided the time of such posting shall be sufficient to protect persons engaged in a lawful public recreational use of any unimproved real property in which such application is made.