Vermont Legislation
VRWA tracks legislation that affects the water-wastewater industry. Below are pending or recently passed bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives in the state legislature of Vermont that may be of interest to our members. Help us shape VRWA's message to legislators by sending us your comments on these bills. We also encourage you to contact your legislators directly. For the full text of these bills and the most recent updates available, visit the website of Vermont's legislature. Last updated: 4/10/08S.92
Groundwater Mapping
Status in House: PassedStatus in Senate: In Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Main Sponsors: Robert Starr, James Condos, Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Diane Snelling, Jeanette White
Description: This bill proposes to require the agency of natural resources to map the groundwater resources of the state by county, beginning with Franklin County.
S.96
Improving Pollution control Measures for Lake Champlain
Status in House: noneStatus in Senate: In Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Main Sponsors: Susan Bartlett, Vincent Illuzzi, Mark MacDonald, James Condos, Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Diane Snelling, Claire Ayer, Hinda Miller, Jeanette White, Harold Giard, Ed Flanagan, Peter Shumlin, Robert Hartwell, Douglas Racine, Richard McCormack
Description: This bill proposes to require the agency of natural resources to reopen the total maximum daily load plan for Lake Champlain as it relates to the waters of Vermont.
S.368
An Act Relating to the Addition of New Types of Disinfectants to Public Water Systems
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: Passed
Main Sponsors: Committee on Health & Welfare
Description: This bill proposes to require the commissioner of the agency of natural resources to consult with the department of health when considering the public health effects of adding new disinfectants to public water systems. The bill would also require the secretary to give notice and the opportunity for written comment and a hearing to the public and appropriate state agencies for each application for the addition of a new type of disinfectant to a public water system.
H.73
Water Management Types for State Waters
Status in House: PassedStatus in Senate: In Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to authorize the water resources board to adopt by rule water management types within the existing classes of state waters.
H.75
The Registration and Inspection of Dams
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to require the owners of all dams in the state to register with the agency of natural resources and to complete an annual inspection of the dams.
H.107
Non-Point Source Pollution
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Betty Nuovo, David Zuckerman, Michael Fisher, Bill Botzow, Jim McCullough, Tony Klein, Sue Minter, Alison Clarkson, Kathy Pellett, Rachel Weston, Kristy Spengler, Margaret Cheney
Description: This bill proposes to prohibit the conduct of an activity that results in the placement of any waste, substance, or material in a location where it is likely to enter the waters of the state. The bill would authorize the secretary of natural resources to adopt rules to limit the placement of waste or the conduct of activity in proximity to the waters of the state.
H.119
Establishing Minimum Waterfront Protection Standards
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to establish minimum waterfront protection standards that would apply to lands located within the protected waterfront, which is defined as being that area within 250 feet from the ordinary or mean high watermark of the navigable public waters of the state. The standards include provisions that prohibit certain activities within the protected waterfront.
H.120
Dam Safety Revolving Fund and Authorizing Fire Districts to Address Dam Safety
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Kenneth Atkins, David Deen, Jim Masland, David Zuckerman, Sarah Edwards
Description: This bill proposes to establish a Vermont dam safety state revolving fund to provide loans for the improvement or removal and decommissioning of dams. It also proposes to allow municipalities to establish fire districts with a mandate of providing for dam safety, which may be attained by dam improvement or by dam removal and decommissioning. The act requires that these fire districts be established by act of legislation.
H.121
Protecting the Air and Waters of the State by Banning the Use of Mercury Amalgam, Effective January 1, 2011
Status in House: In Human Services CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: David Deen, Michael Fisher, Mitzi Johnson, Patsy French, Tony Klein, Carol Hosford, Dexter Randall
Description: This bill proposes to limit the presence of mercury in the air and waters of the state by prohibiting the installation of mercury-containing dental amalgam, except in back molars, effective January 1, 2011. It establishes reporting requirements regarding amounts of mercury supplied to the dentists of the state. It also proposes to establish a comprehensive program by which manufacturers of mercury-added thermostats will collect mercury-added thermostats facing disposal.
H.154
Stormwater Management
Status: Signed by GovernorMain Sponsors: David Deen, Ann Pugh, Albert "Sonny" Audette, Jim McCullough, Helen Head, Michele Kupersmith
Description: This bill proposes that the failure of a real estate subdivision to obtain, renew, or comply with the terms of a pretransition stormwater discharge permit shall not create an encumbrance on record title to real property within the real estate subdivision or affect marketability of title of real property within the real estate subdivision, provided that the stormwater system for the subdivision is transferred to a properly formed stormwater utility. The bill would also extend to 2008 the deadline date for the agency of natural resources' completion of the total maximum daily load plans for the 17 stormwater-impaired waters of the state. Similarly, the bill would extend until 2008 the sunset for the interim stormwater permitting program and the notice of deferral provision for transfer of real estate in stormwater-impaired watersheds.
H.162
Wetland Mitigation Banking
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: William Johnson
Description: This bill proposes to require the water resources panel to adopt rules for the replacement or mitigation of significant wetlands. The rules shall include wetlands mitigation banking and payment in lieu of mitigation programs.
H.163
Stormwater Management
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Carolyn Whitney Branagan, Kathy LaBelle LaVoie
Description: This bill proposes to amend the orphan stormwater system pilot program to allow homeowners' associations to apply for grants from the program. In addition, the bill would appropriate $650,000.00 to the agency of natural resources to continue the orphan stormwater system pilot program.
H.164
Expanding Emergency Planning to Address Land Use Issues, Including Food Supply Planning, Distributed Power Planning, and Water Supply Planning
Status in House: In Agriculture CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: David Deen, Jim Masland, David Sharpe, Jim McCullough, Tony Klein, Sarah Edwards, John Malcolm, Kathy Pellett, Will Stevens
Description: It proposes to require the director of emergency management to coordinate emergency planning efforts with long-range land use initiatives, including food supply planning efforts, drinking water supply planning efforts, and power planning efforts that would assure distributed renewable power facilities are located so as to provide service for critical local facilities.
H.173
Wetlands Management
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Kenneth Atkins, Joseph Baker, Daryl Pillsbury, Ira Trombley
Description: This bill proposes to amend the regulation of wetlands in the state by requiring a permit to conduct activities in naturally occurring wetlands, but allowing activities in manmade wetlands unless otherwise prohibited by rule. The bill would also authorize the water resources panel of the natural resources board to adopt rules regarding both naturally occurring wetlands and manmade wetlands. In addition, the bill would exempt a person that had transferred property on which a wetland is located from liability for a violation of state wetlands law if the violation occurs subsequent to transfer, and notice of transfer had been filed in the land records.
H.193
Wetlands Protection
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to authorize the secretary of natural resources to make certain wetland determinations and modify the Vermont significant wetlands inventory maps. The bill would also provide for an appeal of the secretaryÕs determinations, amend the wetland value relating to hydrophytic vegetation habitat, and appropriate funds for the updating and improvement of the Vermont significant wetlands inventory maps.
H.194
Fees for Stormwater Discharges
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Carolyn Whitney Branagan, Kathy LaBelle LaVoie
Description: This bill would exempt landowners from the application and operating fees for the discharge of collected stormwater runoff.
H.219
Wetlands Conservation
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to amend the requirements related to significant wetlands and associated buffers in the state. The bill would authorize the secretary of natural resources to identify and review wetlands and to regulate most significant wetlands in the state and to use that information to update the Vermont significant wetlands inventory maps. The bill would authorize the secretary of natural resources to issue a permit for activities in a wetland that are not otherwise allowed by statute or rule. The bill would also authorize the water resources panel to adopt rules regarding the identification and protection of significant wetlands.
H.297
Establishing Municipal Waterfront Buffers
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: William Johnson, David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to require municipalities, beginning July 1, 2012, to establish 15-foot vegetative buffer zones adjacent to the public waters of the state. The bill would also require the water resources panel of the natural resources board to adopt rules regarding the size and use of buffer zones.
H.309
Stormwater Discharges to State Waters Listed as Impaired by Sediment or Nutrients
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: David Deen
Description: This bill proposes to require that discharges of stormwater to waters listed as impaired due to sediment or nutrients meet the requirements of the interim stormwater permitting program.
H.451
Designated Low Impact Development Neighborhoods, Agricultural Lands Mitigation and Housing Under Act 250, Land Gains Tax Exemptions for Housing, and Other Housing Incentives
Status in House: In General, Housing & Military Affairs CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Lucy Leriche, Albert Perry, Alison Clarkson
Description: This bill proposes that agency of natural resourcesÕ water and wastewater fees and Act 250 fees exclusively for housing developments shall be one-half the normal rate. It proposes to require a wetlands study to develop an MOU with the Army Corps of Engineers with a view to allowing conversion of wetlands in designated entities and establishing regional preapproved wetlands mitigation systems. It requires urban stormwater rules to protect watersheds while allowing high density development of housing.
H.494
On-site Public Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Christopher Bray, Willem Jewett
Description: This bill proposes to extend the date on which the agency of natural resources assumes jurisdiction over the permitting of all potable water supply and wastewater systems.
H.549
Establishing Waterfront Buffer Zones
Status in House: In AppropriationsStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsor: Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources Committee
Description: This bill proposes to require, beginning July 1, 2010, the establishment of 15-foot buffer zones adjacent to the public waters of the state. The bill would also require the water resources panel of the natural resources board to adopt rules regarding the size and use of buffer zones. The bill would also require municipalities to adopt bylaws requiring the establishment of buffer zones of at least 15 feet along public waters of the state. In addition, the agency of natural resources would enforce the buffer zone requirements.
H.707
Emergency Response Plans for Pollution Abatement Facilities
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Robert Helm, Mitzi Johnson, Ira Trombley, William Canfield, John Morley, Kathy Pellett, Donals Turner, Reginald Godin
Description: This bill proposes to delay until July 1, 2010 enforcement of the requirement that a pollution abatement facility prepare and implement an operation, management, and emergency response plan to address sewage spills from the facility. The bill would also provide appropriations to be available to pollution abatement facilities for the development and implementation of emergency response plans.
H.731
Exempting Municipalities from the Permit Fees for Discharge Permits and Water Supply Permits
Status in House: In Ways & Means CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Margaret Andrews, Gale Courcelle, Steven Howard, Virginia McCormack
Description: This bill proposes to exempt municipalities from paying the permit fees for discharge permits and public water supply permits.
H.801
Stormwater Management
Status in House: In Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources CommitteeStatus in Senate: none
Main Sponsors: Michele Kupersmith, Albert "Sonny" Audette, Helen Head, Ann Pugh
Description: This bill authorizes real estate subdivisions to transfer a pretransition stormwater permit to a municipal stormwater utility. The bill would also require the agency of natural resources to submit to the general assembly a schedule for issuance of the implementation plans for the total maximum daily load plans for the stormwater-impaired waters of the state. In addition, the bill increases the maximum amount of funds in the Vermont environmental protection agency pollution control revolving fund that may be appropriated for the construction of stormwater management facilities.
H.806
Public Water Systems
Status in House: PassedStatus in Senate: In Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Main Sponsors: Kenneth Atkins, Leigh Larocque, Albert "Sonny" Audette, Donald Bostic, Bill Keogh, Daryl Pillsbury, Norman McAllister, Michele Kupersmith, James Fitsgerald, Michel Consejo
Description: This bill proposes to exempt certain public water systems from permitting requirements if a water system consists only of distribution and storage facilities, does not sell water, is not a carrier which conveys passengers in interstate commerce, and obtains its water from a permitted public water system.
H.873
The Cleanup of Lake Champlain and Other State Waters
Status in House: PassedStatus in Senate: In Natural Resources & Energy Committee
Main Sponsors: Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources
Description: This bill proposes to require the agency of natural resources (ANR) to amend the implementation plan for the Vermont-specific portion of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) plan for Lake Champlain instead of reopening the TMDL for Lake Champlain. The bill also requires ANR to submit to the general assembly a schedule for the issuance and implementation of the TMDLs for the 17 stormwater-impaired waters of the state. It also clarifies that a residential subdivision may transfer to a municipality property subject to an expired stormwater permit. In addition, the bill clarifies when a pollution abatement facility will be required to implement an operation, management, and emergency response plan. It also exempts composting from the requirements of Act 250. Back to top
