Agency of Natural Resources

The Phil Scott administration implemented wetlands rule changes to facilitate housing development near wetlands, reducing buffer zones from 50 to 25 feet in designated areas. Lawmakers rejected the initial proposals, but the administration revised the rules to avoid litigation, retaining the buffer zone reduction while removing provisions for building in unmapped wetlands. Environmental organizations, including the Vermont Natural Resources Council, agreed not to sue after the changes were scaled back.

A panel of experts highlighted contamination in Lake Memphremagog, a drinking water source for 200,000 Quebec residents, due to PFAS and landfill leachate. Municipalities around the lake oppose discharging treated or untreated leachate into the watershed, citing environmental injustice and inadequate treatment standards. Current leachate practices risk long-term contamination, with captured PFAS being returned to landfills instead of being destroyed.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is criticized for failing to represent Vermonters, using public funds for a greenwashing campaign on Vermont Public, and prioritizing image management over addressing wildlife threats. The letter alleges mismanagement, lack of staff diversity, and neglect of public interests by the department and state leadership.

Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources proposes new rules for managing 375,000 acres of state lands, focusing on old growth forests, invasive species, and trail maintenance. The rules, open for public comment until June 18, aim to streamline planning but face concerns about insufficient public input and transparency.