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Public Notice Opportunities

Public Notice - Clean Water Action Plan: The Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant was established to implement clean water projects in order to make progress towards meeting the state’s TMDL phosphorus reduction targets. The Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Program introduced guidance and tools related to water quality project funding in order to quantify project impact and cost-effectiveness, establish phosphorus reduction targets, and placed emphasis on local partner collaboration. In order to support the Clean Water Service Delivery network and enhance the implementation of the Water Quality Restoration Grant funding process, DEC developed a Clean Water Action Plan. The purpose of the Action Plan is to develop a list of near-term and longer-term actions based on an analysis of Clean Water project data, as well as feedback from the CWSPs, BWQC members, project implementers, and stakeholders in the Clean Water Service Network in order to support clean water improvement efforts. 

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Reappointment - Basin 3: Addison County Regional Planning Commission

After reviewing the Addison County Regional Planning Commission's (ACRPC) request for reappointment and performance, DEC approved reappointment of the ACRPC as the CWSP for Basin 3.

Past Public Notice – Clean Water Service Provider Guidance – Chapter 3 – “Financial Management”

 

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 current version of the Chapter can be found at this link: Chapter 3 Guidance "Financial Management". The public comment period ended November 6th, 2024.

Past 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 10th, 2024.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Chapter 7 - "Operation & Maintenance"

The State of Vermont has finalized Chapter 7 of Guidance for Formula Grants on "Operations & Maintenance".  This chapter provides guidance to Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs), Basin Water Quality Councils (BWQCs), project implementers, project landowners, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) responsible parties, stakeholders, and the public on the verification, operation, and maintenance of clean water projects. Specifically, this chapter includes instructions for using the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) developed site access agreements, expectations and methods for Clean Water Project Verification, roles and responsibilities related to conducting Verification and O&M, existing project adoption, DEC trainings, and reporting. The public comment period ended March 8th, 2024. The State has also released a Responsiveness Summary for Chapter 7.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Chapter 9 - "Adequate Progress"

The State of Vermont has finalized Chapter 9 of Guidance for Formula Grants on "Adequate Progress." The chapter provides guidance for both Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) and their Basin Water Quality Councils (BWQCs) regarding the expectations set forth by the State for adequate annual progress, measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. The public comment period ended January 8th, 2024. The State has also released a Responsiveness Summary of Chapter 9.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Chapter 5 - "Conflict of Interest"

The State of Vermont has finalized Chapter 5 of Guidance for Formula Grants on “Conflict of Interest.” The chapter provides guidance for both Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) and their Basin Water Quality Councils (BWQCs) regarding conflicts that may come up in the context of advancing clean water projects for prioritization and funding under Act 76's Formula Grants. The public comment period ended September 8th, 2023. The State has also released a Responsiveness Summary of Chapter 5.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Chapter 6 - "Clean Water Projects" 

The State of Vermont engaged with a mix of state agencies and external stakeholders in the development and review of Act 76 Guidance Chapter 6 - "Clean Water Projects" - now posted here as the final version (7.0) along with a responsiveness summary to comments received during the public comment period.  The State of Vermont finalized the Clean Water Projects Guidance Chapter after public comment as required in Act 76 § 924 (a) (3) which states "The Secretary shall adopt guidance on a clean water service provider’s obligation with respect to implementation of this chapter. The Secretary shall provide notice to the public of the proposed guidance and a comment period of not less than 30 days". Public comments were accepted from February 10th,  through March 13th, 2023.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Data Management Chapter

The State of Vermont finalized the Data Management Guidance Chapter after public comment as required in Act 76 § 924 (a) (3) which states "The Secretary shall adopt guidance on a clean water service provider’s obligation with respect to implementation of this chapter. The Secretary shall provide notice to the public of the proposed guidance and a comment period of not less than 30 days". Public comments were accepted from January 4th through February 3rd, 2023.

Past Public Notice - Clean Water Service Provider Guidance - Three Chapters

The State of Vermont finalized three Guidance Chapters after public comment as required in Act 76 § 924 (a) (3) which states "The Secretary shall adopt guidance on a clean water service provider’s obligation with respect to implementation of this chapter. The Secretary shall provide notice to the public of the proposed guidance and a comment period of not less than 30 days". The DRAFT guidance chapters are fundamental to the establishment of Basin Water Quality Councils, cover CWSP financial management, and provides guidance on CWSP governance.

The State of Vermont engaged with a mix of state and federal agencies and external stakeholders in the development and review of components of these DRAFT Guidance chapters prior to posting for public comment. Public comments were accepted from May 26 through June 27, 2022 for Chapters 2 and 4, and through July 22, 2022, for Chapter 3.

Past Public Notice - Formula Grants Target and Fund Allocation Methodology

The State of Vermont posted the following DRAFT methodologies for public comment March 30, 2022 through May 2, 2022. The State of Vermont is reviewing the public comments that were received through the Environmental Notice Bulletin and will post a final versions with response summaries.  

These methodologies are fundamental to both (a) the allocation of Formula Grant funds and (b) estimating phosphorus reductions associated with clean water projects to monitor the State’s progress implementing Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog phosphorus reduction requirements (articulated in phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Loads, or “TMDLs”). The State utilized Type 3 procedures to post the above DRAFT methodologies for public comment, as required in 10 V.S.A. § 922 and 10 V.S.A. § 923.

Public Meetings on the DRAFT Methodologies

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) held the following public meetings, each focused on one of the DRAFT methodologies posted for public comment.

​Guidance Subgroups

Five subgroups were established to engage with stakeholders and develop the Clean Water Service Provider Guidance.

  • Chapters 2-4 Guidance Subgroup
  • Data Management and Reporting Subgroup
  • Enhancement Grant Structure Subgroup
  • Formula Grant and Fund Allocations Subgroup
  • Operation and Maintenance Subgroup

Subgroup Newsletter

Summaries of ongoing subgroup meetings are available in a monthly subgroup newsletter. Contact Jay Mullen with subject “Act 76 Subgroup listserv” to be added to the newsletter recipient list. 

The subgroup newsletter is in the process of being re-vamped to encompass Act 76 activity, and all formula grant-related activity. The updated newsletter will be released every other month, starting at the beginning of March. 

Training for Clean Water Service Providers & Basin Water Quality Councils

Some online trainings for Clean Water Service Providers & Basin Water Quality Councils are available on the Watershed Planning Program ENGAGEMENT & TRAINING webpage. 

Verification and Operation & Maintenance training information is available on the CWIP Clean Water Project Verification and O&M webpage. 

Watch an Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets training video on Clean Water Service Provider formula grant screening for agricultural projects here.

Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

The Advisory Committee is a stakeholder working group established to work with the Water Investment Division and guide the development of the Rule.