Act No. 79 Page 1 of 2
2023
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 79 (S. 80). An act relating to miscellaneous environmental conservation subjects
Subjects: Conservation and development; water quality financing; State revolving
loan funds; dams; Petroleum Cleanup Fund
This act makes amendments to multiple miscellaneous environmental statutes. The
deadline for submission of the dam registration report by the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) is extended from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2025.
Similarly, the deadline for DEC’s submission of dam design standard rules is extended
from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2024. The act also allows an unlicensed salvage yard to
operate a mobile salvage yard vehicle crusher with a liquids collection system to close the
salvage yard.
The act amends multiple State revolving loan statutes. The act allows for up to
$275,000.00 from the Vermont Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pollution
Control Revolving Fund to be transferred to the Vermont Wastewater and Potable Water
Revolving Fund in fiscal year 2024. After fiscal year 2024, such a transfer can only be
made if DEC submitted a comprehensive fee report and a status report on the revolving
loan funds, and the General Assembly further authorizes fund transfer. The act
authorizes the Bond Bank to administer the Vermont State Drinking Water Planning
Loan Fund and allows the Vermont EPA Pollution Control Revolving Fund to be
administered by a community development association. The act allows the Vermont
EPA Pollution Control Revolving Fund to fund loans to individuals for failed wastewater
or potable water supply systems. The act authorizes loans from the Vermont Wastewater
and Potable Water Revolving Loan Fund to single-family and multifamily residences for
failed systems or systems with a high probability of failing.
The act requires the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) to report to the General
Assembly on implementation of a State riparian protection program. The act shifts the
ANR report on stormwater treatment practices in the Lake Champlain watershed from a
report from the previous calendar year to a report from the previous fiscal year. The act
extends until January 2024 the ANR report on implementation of the clean water service
provider model to help fund and implement water quality projects at a local level. The
act also delays from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2024 the deadline for ANR’s report to the
General Assembly on a market-based mechanism for the trading of water quality credits.
The act repeals the authority for ANR to deny a person a solid waste hauler permit for
failing a criminal background check. The act provides that a Stormwater Construction
General Permit issued for emergency construction purposes will be issued according to
the public notice requirements for emergency permits. The act clarifies that a shoreland
encroachment permit is effective on the date of issuance. In addition, the act removes the
requirement for ANR to post failed potable water supplies on the ANR website.
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Act No. 79 Page 2 of 2
2023
The act makes multiple amendments to the statutes regulating grants from the
Petroleum Cleanup Fund (PCF). The act raises the maximum funds allowed under the
PCF for use for aboveground storage tank (AST) spills from $25,000.00 to $50,000.00.
The act increases the amount of grants available to farms or residential dwellings to
close, replace, or upgrade an underground storage tank (UST) or AST. The act also
authorizes grants from the PCF for the replacement of a heating fuel system with an
advanced wood heat system or heat pump. In addition, the act increases the maximum
amount that may be expended for UST and AST assistance for farms or residential
dwellings from a previous maximum of $400,000.00 a year to a maximum of
$500,000.00 a year.
Effective Date: July 1, 2023.
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Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941(g), 10-1941
As Passed By the Senate -- Official: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941(g), 10-1941
As Passed By the Senate -- Unofficial: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941(g), 10-1941
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941
As Enacted: 29-402(7), 29-402, 24-2248(d), 24-2248, 24-4753, 24-120, 10-1264(k), 10-1264, 10-1389a(b)(6), 10-1389a, 10-1389a(b), 10-1527, 10-6697, 24-2282, 10-6605f(a), 10-6605f, 10-7716, 10-1972(4), 10-1972, 10-1941