An act relating to stormwater management

H.481 requires property owners with impervious surfaces of three or more acres to obtain stormwater permits if their discharge wasn't previously permitted or didn't follow the 2002 Stormwater Management Manual. It sets deadlines for compliance: October 1, 2028 for Lake Champlain/Lake Memphremagog watersheds and October 1, 2038 for other areas. The bill establishes a general permit process, allows municipalities to assume full responsibility for stormwater systems (with owner-approved fees), and permits stormwater impact fees and phosphorus credit trading within watersheds. These changes aim to improve water quality by standardizing stormwater management practices across Vermont.