Through the passage of Act 57 (2023), the Vermont Legislature established the Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Study Committee. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Lakes and Ponds Program has jurisdiction over the state’s statutory ANC Permit Program, which issues permits pursuant to the requirements of 10 V.S.A. § 1455. Act 57 established this Study Committee to assess the environmental and public health effects of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, and biological controls for aquatic nuisance control in State waters. The Study Committee submitted to the Vermont General Assembly recommendations regarding whether and when pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, or biological controls should be used to control aquatic nuisances in Vermont. See the full act for more details. The Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Final Report may be found in the Vermont General Assembly Legislative Reports portal.
Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Committee Membership:
- Department of Environmental Conservation: Kim Jensen, Aquatic Biologist and AIS Section Lead
- Fish and Wildlife Department: Eric Palmer, Fisheries Division Director
- Vermont Department of Health: Sarah Owen, PhD, State Toxicologist
- University of Vermont Aquatic Biologist: Ellen Marsden, PhD, Professor, Fisheries
- University of Vermont Public Health Expert: William Bress, PhD, Assistant Professor, Environmental Public Health, Toxicology, Occupational Health
- House of Representatives: Amy Sheldon, Addison-1, Chair - House Committee on Environment and Energy,
- Senate: Chris Bray, Addison District, Chair - Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
- Administrative / Technical Support: Olin Reed, Aquatic Biologist & Permit Specialist, DEC
The Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Committee was created to assess the environmental and public health effects of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, biological controls, and other controls in comparison to the efficacy of their use in controlling aquatic nuisances recommendations regarding whether and when pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, or biological controls should be used to control aquatic nuisances in Vermont in a report to the VT General Assembly on or before December 15, 2023. The recommendations of the Committee shall include:
(1) a summary of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, and biological controls in the lakes and ponds of Vermont since January 1, 2000, including the types of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, and biological controls approved for use and why they were approved instead of nonchemical controls;
(2) an assessment of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, or biological controls on the nontarget environment or nontarget species; and
(3) recommended legislative changes to the aquatic nuisance control requirements under 10 V.S.A. Chapter 50 to:
(A) implement the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, or biological controls in a more precautionary manner that ensures the protection of State waters and is designed to protect fish, reptiles, amphibians, and all other aquatic biota;
(B) establish the appropriate standard for approval of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, and biological controls for aquatic nuisance control;
(C) amend the process for the application of an aquatic nuisance control permit in a manner that improves the opportunity for interested parties to participate in the permitting process and that ensures full transparency in the permitting process; and
(D) provide other changes that the Study Committee determines are necessary or appropriate for implementation of effective aquatic nuisance control in the State.
The Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Study Committee met bi-weekly from September 18z, 2023 to December 15, 2023. Meeting Agenda's, Online Meeting Teams Links, Meeting Minutes, Recorded Meetings, and Presentations are posted on this webpage.
ANC Study Committee Meeting Documents
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #1 on September 18, 2023
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #2 on September 29, 2023
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes September 29, 2023
- Presentation - ANC History of Pesticide Use in Vermont and ANC Permit Criteria Review
- Aquatic Nuisance Control Pre-Rulemaking Focus Group webpage
- Aquatic Nuisance Control Individual Permit Application Internal Review Procedure
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #3 on October 10, 2023
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #4 on October 17, 2023
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes October 17, 2023
- Presentation - ANC Permit Definitions and Terminology
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #5 on October 31, 2023
- Agenda
- Meeting Minutes October 31, 2023
- Presentation - ANC Permit Public Notification
Documents from the ANC Study Committee Meeting #5 on November 14, 2023
- Agenda
- Meeting Recording is unavailable
- Meeting Minutes November 14, 2023
Documents for the ANC Study Committee Meeting #6 on December 12, 2023
The Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Final Report was produced in response to a legislative request originating in the House Environment and Energy Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee. These committees may be continuing work on this topic in the 2024 legislative session. The Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Final Report may be found in the Vermont General Assembly Legislative Reports portal.
Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Public Comments Received - Source Folder Link