When Brookhaven Town workers tore into Bartlett Pond Park last month to rid the area of dead and dying trees choked by invasive species, they allegedly cleared more land than was permitted by state law, according to state officials.

John Pavacic, executive director of the Central Pine Barrens Commission, said Brookhaven Town is under investigation by the commission for clearing over an acre of land at the town park on Middle Country Road in Middle Island.

In May 2010, the Central Pine Barrens Commission held a public hearing on a hardship application from the Longwood Alliance, which was requesting the commission’s approval to clear more land than allowable by law because the amount of damage caused by the invasive species has created an unsafe environment for hiking.

But at the conclusion of the hearing, commission members determined that a hardship was not needed as long as the clearing for a trail did not exceed four feet, Mr. Pavacic said.

Pine Barrens Society executive director Richard Amper called the clearing allegations “very serious.”

“This is a clear violation of the Pine Barrens Act,” he said. “The town knew or should have known that it was a violation of state law.”

Brookhaven Town Parks Commissioner Ed Morris did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Town spokesman Jack Krieger said in a statement that the parks department “intends to re-vegetate much of the cleared area in the near future.”

“There was public discussion on the project at a Pine Barrens Commission meeting and Town of Brookhaven staff worked with Pine Barrens staff to address the issues involved,” Mr. Krieger said. “A permit was granted from the Town office of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct the clearing in connection with the community-supported project, which included removal of invasive species that were overtaking the natural environment, killing a few trees.”

Middle Island civic president Tom Talbot said he believed the clearing was necessary in order to reclaim the park, which has been plagued by tangled trees and thicket for the past several years.

“It was very evident that trees were going to have to be replanted,” Mr. Talbot said, adding that the civic is in the works of reaching out to the community to develop a design plan for the park.

The commission is expected to address the allegations at its next meeting on Wednesday.