Environment (Water Quality)

This bill makes water quality training for Vermont farmers optional instead of mandatory, while requiring approval from the Secretary of Agriculture for anyone transporting non-sewage waste or waste materials to farms. The law also updates unit pricing standards to require uniform price disclosures at retail food establishments, with exceptions for made-to-order restaurant items and prescription drugs. Farmers would no longer be required to complete specific water quality training courses as of July 1, 2026, though the Secretary retains discretion to require additional education when appropriate. The waste transport provisions allow the Secretary to request information about waste composition, nutrients, contaminants, and volume before approving transport to agricultural operations.

H.805 streamlines permitting for minor water-related activities in Vermont. It allows the Secretary of Natural Resources to issue general permits for stormwater discharges, wetlands work, and small wastewater/potable water systems when a licensed engineer certifies compliance with rules. The bill also creates exemptions for owner-occupied residences: applicants can avoid full permits by using engineered solutions to reduce harm or accept liability for system failures. Additionally, it requires tax valuation for forested wetlands parcels to use a lower "use value" rate instead of market value. These changes primarily affect homeowners, small developers, and property owners with water systems on wetlands.

This bill allows qualifying Vermont towns with approved local plans to designate certain areas (Tier 1A and Tier 1B) as exempt from Act 250 land use regulations until December 31, 2029. It also shifts stormwater permitting authority from the state to certified professional engineers, who would design and permit projects themselves under state oversight. Towns meeting specific zoning and planning requirements could use these exemptions for development projects. The state would periodically review engineers' work and could revoke certification if standards aren't met.

H 162 would repeal Vermont's requirement for the Agency of Natural Resources to issue permits for stormwater discharges from impervious surfaces of three or more acres. This directly affects property owners and developers with large impervious surfaces (like commercial sites or subdivisions) who previously needed permits for such discharges, particularly for sites not covered by earlier regulations. The bill removes the permit obligation for stormwater discharges that were either never permitted or were permitted under the outdated 2002 Stormwater Management Manual. The bill is currently pending in the Environment Committee after its first reading on February 7, 2025.