Public Notice Opportunities
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 8, 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.
- Chapter 6 - Clean Water Projects is available at this link.
- A response summary for these Chapters is available at this link.
- Adopted Chapters may be found at this link.
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.
- A response summary for these Chapters is available at this link.
- Adopted Chapters may be found at this link.
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.
- A response summary for these Chapters is available at this link.
- Adopted Chapters may be found at this link.
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.
- Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Targets and Fund Allocation Methodology
- DRAFT Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Targets and Fund Allocation Methodology (posted for public comment March 28, 2022)
- FINAL Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Targets and Fund Allocation Methodology (posted June 3, 2022)
- FINAL Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Targets and Fund Allocation Methodology Response Summary (posted June 3, 2022)
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Phosphorous Tracking & Accounting (posted March 30, 2022)
-
DRAFT Standard Operating Procedures for Tracking & Accounting of Agricultural Conservation Practices
- DRAFT Standard Operating Procedures for Tracking & Accounting of Natural Resources Restoration Projects
- FINAL Standard Operating Procedures for Phosphorous Tracking & Accounting (posted June 28, 2022)
-
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.
- Water Quality Restoration Formula Grant Targets and Fund Allocation Methodology - April 12th, 2022
- Phosphorus Tracking and Accounting Standard Operating Procedures - April 15th, 2022
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.
- Newsletter 1: February 2022
- Newsletter 2: March 2022
- Newsletter 3: April 2022
- Newsletter 4: May 2022
- Newsletter 5: June 2022
- Newsletter 6: July 2022
- Newsletter 7: August 2022
- Newsletter 8: September 2022
- Newsletter 9: October 2022
- Newsletter 10: November 2022
- Newsletter 11: December 2022
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.
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.
- November 4, 2019: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- November 21, 2019: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- December 3, 2019: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- December 17, 2019: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- January 10, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- January 24, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- February 14, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- February 21, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- March 6, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- March 20, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- April 3, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- Apirl 17, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
- May 1, 2020: Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes