Do you need water or wastewater infrastructure construction funding between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024?

Vermont’s CWSRF and DWSRF are providing a webinar on this year's Project Priority Lists (PPLs) applications and application process at noon on February 14, 2023, via Microsoft Teams.

The webinar provides information on the following:

• Funding cycle overview 
• Introduction to Project Priority Lists (PPLs)
• PPL ranking process
• How to read the PPL & fundable range
• Minimum requirements for getting on the list for construction funding
• Eligible projects & owners
• Preliminary Engineering Reports (PERS) requirement
• DWSRF Project Priority List Application
• CWSRF Project Priority List Application (with Live Demonstration!)

Who should attend?
Towns, Villages, Consulting Engineers and Coordinators, Housing Groups, Regional Planners, and more…

As a reminder, priority list applications must be submitted by March 1, 2023.

View a recording of this webinar on the ANR YouTube channel.  Thank you for attending!

• Meeting Purpose: The Clean Water Board will review the Governor's recommended SFY 2024 Clean Water Budget and updated Clean Water Fund revenue projections, as well as address other business beyond annual Clean Water Budget cycles. Other business includes consultation on the draft Nutrient Trading Recommendation Report (Act 76 of 2019 Sec.7) and review and approve the updated Clean Water Fund Expenditure Contingency Plan.

• RSVP: Please RSVP by completing this online RSVP form, by Tuesday, February 21st at 4:00 pm. The RSVP form will request you indicate the following:

  • If you plan to attend in-person at the physical meeting location. A list of in-person visitors must be sent to site security staff ahead of time. 

  • If you wish to sign-up to comment during the public comments portion of the agenda.

  • If assistance is needed to participate in the public meeting.

• Attend Remotely: The meeting will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. Join Microsoft Teams Meeting for full meeting audio and visual. If you require a call-in option to participate (e.g., computer does not have a microphone), dial +1 802-828-7667 and enter phone conference ID: 664 397 894#.

• Physical Location to Attend in Person: Public who wish to attend in person may join us at the Agency of Natural Resources, One National Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05602 in the Catamount Room (Davis Building, Second Floor, Room D215). Please indicate, using the online RSVP form, if you wish to join in person. 

• Agenda and Materials: To be posted on the Clean Water Board Meetings webpage in advance.

Contact ANR.CleanWaterVT@vermont.gov with questions about the upcoming Board meeting. 

For more information visit the Clean Water Board webpage.

February 9, 2023 12 - 12:45 PM

The VT Department of Environmental Conservation's Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) has just released its 2022 Performance Report which summarizes efforts of state government, along with federal and local partners, to improve water quality across Vermont from State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2016 to 2022 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2022). In this virtual talk, CWIP's TMDL Tracking and Accounting Coordinator, Claire Madden, will provide an overview of Vermont's clean water progress.

• View the Full Report 
• Register here to attend

Pursuant to 10 V.S.A. §1424, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation received a petition to adopt a Use of Public Waters Rule regarding the management of wake boats and their activities on Vermont lakes and ponds.

The Use of Public Waters Rules (Rules) govern the aquatic resources management of the public waters of Vermont. The Rules establish a number of general management rules to protect normal uses on all lakes, ponds and reservoirs. If an entity proposes to adopt a Use of Public Waters rule for a public waterbody, they may petition the State to create a recreation-related rule to address a specific recreation-related conflict. The Rules attempt to avoid, where possible, and resolve, when necessary, conflicts in the use of public waters in a comprehensive and integrated manner so that the various uses may be enjoyed in a reasonable manner, considering the best interests of both current and future generations of the citizens of the state and insuring that natural resource values of the public waters are fully protected.

The petition and supporting documents are posted online: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/rulemaking

After review of the petition, supporting documents, the scientific literature, and verbal and written comments, the Department has developed a draft rule that will, if enacted under an upcoming rulemaking process, regulate the use of wake boats in Vermont's Lakes and Ponds that are regulated under the Use of Public Waters Rules. The Department will be holding one final meeting in the "pre-rulemaking" phase of the petition process to update the public on the development of the draft rule. The Department seeks feedback on the content of the proposed draft rule. 

A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Any person can sign up to provide verbal feedback only on the proposed draft rule in person, or through the virtual platform (sign-ups close at 3pm on 2/10/2023). Oral statements will be limited to two minutes. The meeting will be held at the Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St, Greensboro, VT 05841, and online via Microsoft Teams. To join the meeting remotely, Click here to join the meeting at the scheduled time or call 802-828-7667 and enter the Conference ID number: 707 701 931#. Note: the call-in option provides audio only.

Please note that once the draft rule moves forward into formal rulemaking, there will be at least one public hearing as well as an opportunity to provide written comment.

Please review the content of the proposed draft rule here.

Sign-up to provide feedback on the draft rule here: https://forms.office.com/g/ayJuuH9923