Public Notice - Guidance Chapter 3 Update: A draft revised version of Chapter 3 of the Clean Water Service Provider Guidance document was posted in September, 2024 for public comment. No public comments were received. DEC has adopted the revised Chapter in whole. The final version of the Chapter can be at this link: Chapter 3 Guidance "Financial Management".
Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Chapter 10 - "Assignment, Reassignment, and Replacement": The State of Vermont has finalized Chapter 10 of Guidance for Formula Grants on "Assignment, Reassignment, and Replacement" and posted a Responsiveness Summary. This chapter provides guidance to Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) on the process of basin assignment, reassignment, or deassignment. This chapter also describes corrective action plans in order to address any deficiencies of service, as necessary. The public comment period ended July 10, 2024.
This page provides information on Vermont’s new Clean Water Service Delivery Act of 2019. Act 76 of 2019 establishes a water quality project delivery framework to support Vermont’s clean water goals. In addition to securing a new long-term funding source for the Clean Water Fund, three of the most fundamental aspects of this law are:
Provides assurances to meet non-regulatory targets: Act 76 prioritizes program delivery and funds for non-regulatory projects. Non-regulatory projects include sub-jurisdictional stormwater management practices and natural resource restoration projects such as floodplain reconnections, wetlands restoration, forestland best management practices, and forested riparian buffer restoration. While not required through existing regulatory programs, these projects are essential to achieve the water quality goals spelled out in the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog TMDLs.
Establishes interim phosphorus reduction targets: Act 76 requires formula dispersal of funds for non-regulatory projects in the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog basins. Formula is based on interim phosphorus reduction targets and a standard cost per unit phosphorus reduced, consistent with “pay for performance” models.
Clean Water Service Providers: Act 76 establishes new regional organizations called clean water service providers (CWSP). CWSPs will be established for each Tactical Basin Planning watershed in the Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog basins. CWSPs are responsible for partnering with Basin Water Quality Councils to identify, implement, operate, and maintain non-regulatory projects to meet non-regulatory interim phosphorus reduction targets.
