Montpelier - State Offices at National Life complex

ANR Secretary Invites Public to Join Conversation about Environmental Issues on October 15

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Secretary Julie Moore invites Vermonters to join her on October 15 from 4:00-5:00 pm to discuss a variety of environmental topics. The conversation will begin with a discussion on village wastewater systems and how these systems support strong rural economies, fight climate change, and create more vibrant communities.

“Villages form the heart of Vermont’s rural communities, but more than 200 villages lack community sewer systems, which can form a barrier to new, compact development or enhancing the use of existing buildings,” said Secretary Moore. “To overcome this challenge, we formed an interagency Village Wastewater Initiative Committee lead by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The committee develops tools and resources for villages and coordinates the work of funders and service providers. I welcome the public to come learn about this initiative, weigh in on what’s happening in their towns, and bring other questions they have about Vermont’s environment.” 

At the meeting, Mary Clark and Lynnette Claudon with the Department of Environmental Conservation will discuss how the Initiative will protect Vermont’s historic village development patterns and how it will allow villages to treat sewage more effectively. While the meeting will begin with a conversation on village wastewater projects, it will not be limited to this topic. The Secretary encourages Vermonters to bring their questions and concerns about a wide range of natural resources topics to the meeting. 

The gathering will be held in the Dewey Building at 1 National Life Drive in Montpelier on Tuesday, October 15 from 4:00-5:00 pm. For those not able to make it in person, a Facebook Live stream will be available.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 2:30 - 4:30 pm, in the Catamount Room (N215), National Life Building, Montpelier

The purpose of this meeting is for the Clean Water Board to review the results of the public comment period and make final State Fiscal Year 2021 clean water budget recommendations. The meeting is open to the public. Please RSVP by emailing Jordyn Geller. Agenda and materials to follow. Visit the Clean Water Fund webpage for more information.

Thursday, August 15, 2019, from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

Clean water partners and members of the public are invited to learn about the Clean Water Service Delivery Act of 2019 (Act 76/S.96) from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation staff Neil Kamman, Ethan Swift, and Emily Bird. Act 76 creates a long-term funding source for clean water work and changes how clean water projects are funded, administered, and implemented.

Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Initiative Lecture Series webpage for additional information and help spread the word on Facebook.

Attend the Clean Water Budget Public Hearing - Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 10:00 am, in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

Learn more about clean water funding and the budget process and provide comments on the state's fiscal year 2021 clean water funding priorities. Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Fund webpage for more information.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm in the Winooski River Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

The purpose of the meeting is to adjust the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2020 budget based on actual SFY 2019 revenue and outcomes of the Legislative Session, and review and approve the draft SFY 2021 budget, which will be posted for public comment this summer. This meeting is open to the public. Please RSVP by emailing Jordyn Geller. Visit the Clean Water Fund Budget Process webpage for more information.​

• Agenda and Materials

Thursday, April 25, 2019, 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm in the Catamount Room (N215), National Life Building, Montpelier

The Clean Water Board meeting will cover clean water-related legislative updates and preview the SFY 2021 clean water budget process. This meeting is open to the public. Please RSVP by emailing Emily Bird. Visit the Clean Water Fund Budget Process webpage for more information.​

Thursday,  June 13, 2019, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

Join Leslie Matthews, an Environmental Scientist with the Lakes and Ponds Program, to learn about the Lake Score Card, a user-friendly interface developed by the program to help Vermonters understand overall lake health. Using Google Earth, viewers can select from more than 800 lakes in the state to learn about four key aspects of lake health: nutrients, aquatic invasive species, shoreland and lake habitat, and mercury pollution. Results from the Lake Score Card have prompted more detailed analyses of statewide trends that reveal progress for some lakes, but also concerning trends in our lowest nutrient lakes. This will be the last Clean Water Lecture of the season.

Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Initiative Lecture Series webpage for additional information and help spread the word on Facebook.

Thursday,  May 9, 2019, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

Stormwater Program Manager Padraic Monks will offer details about the new Stormwater Permitting Rule that went into effect March 15, 2019. The Stormwater Program is now preparing a new general permit that will implement the rule, which will require sites with three or more acres of impervious surfaces that lack a permit that meets the 2002 Stormwater Manual to treat their stormwater runoff. Learn about the timeline for adoption of the new general permit, application requirements, and treatment standards, as well as the use of stormwater impact fees.

Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Initiative Lecture Series webpage for additional information and help spread the word on Facebook. 

Thursday,  April 11, 2019, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Catamount Room (N215), National Life Building, Montpelier

Join Ashley Lucht with DEC’s Water Infrastructure Financing Program to learn about the Water Infrastructure Sponsorship Program or WISPr. Under this new program, up to 10% of a municipality’s clean water loan can be used to implement natural resources restoration projects. A reduced administrative fee over the life of the loan will cover the total value of the sponsored restoration project. Find out how to access this innovative and entirely new funding source for clean water. 

Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Initiative Lecture Series webpage for additional information and help spread the word on Facebook. 

Thursday,  March 14, 2019, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Winooski Room (M240), National Life Building, Montpelier

Everyone has a story to tell – so do Vermont’s river basins. Join Basin Planner Danielle Owczarski to learn about Vermont's river basins and their restoration and protection plans through Esri Story Maps. Danielle will also highlight new tools available through the state's online Clean Water Portal and introduce an interactive map in development that will display clean water project opportunities that have been identified and prioritized through the tactical basin planning process.

Attend in person (RSVP by email) or online (via Skype for Business). Visit the Clean Water Initiative Lecture Series webpage for additional information and help spread the word on Facebook.