enviromont - VNRC's online newsletter - Oct. 2003

“VNRC is an integral tool in keeping citizens informed of what the government is doing and not doing environmentally… Organizations like you are very, very important because it helps us spread the voice… As a Vermonter, I’m so thankful you are here.”

Celebrating 40 Years As Vermont’s Environmental Guardian

Our year long celebration of VNRC’s 40th anniversary wraps up in October with a finale at Shelburne Farms. With four decades under our belt, VNRC’s accomplishments are extensive. From the creation of Act 250 to the banning of billboards to the bottle redemption bill, VNRC is an integral part of why Vermont’s environment is what it is today.

We have hosted two successful events celebrating our 40th anniversary, with a third one coming up. In April, over 250 people joined VNRC when we held our first celebration at Landmark College in Putney with Amory Lovins, co-author of Natural Capitalism, Creating the Next Industrial Revolution. Governor James Douglas attended the event for a brief question and answer session. The Governor praised Amory’s concept of merging economics and the environment. Amory was innovative and inspiring as he discussed the need to expand the traditional business approach of valuing only financial capital to include the value of human and natural capital as well. He stressed that capitalism could accommodate both successful business and a healthy environment. VNRC continues to work towards equitable solutions between the growing business world in Vermont and our environment utilizing collaboration, lobbying, sustained public education campaigns, and, when necessary, litigation.

On August 14, VNRC held our second celebration at the historic Hildene in Manchester, Vermont. Special guests included Senator Patrick Leahy, Francis Moore Lappe, author of Hope’s Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet , and Bill McKibben, author of Enough, Staying Human in an Engineered Age. Over 100 members and friends attended the celebration with VNRC’s dedicated board members scooping Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for the crowd on this hot summer day. The heat was on everyone’s mind as Author Bill McKibben spoke about global warming. He estimated that the effect of global warming will precipitate a temperature increase of five degrees by the end of the 21st century. "This is the warmest we've been in 400 million years.” For Vermont, he forecasted that by the mid-to-latter part of the 21st century there will be no birch or maple forests, only oak and beech. McKibben also predicted that, "Vermont might sustain some cross-country skiing - on man-made snow." VNRC’s Executive Director Elizabeth Courtney also addressed the issue, “How we fuel our lives makes all the difference in the sustainability of the planet. We can't satisfy our insatiable appetite for energy; conservation and energy efficiency should be power source number one." Renewable energy continues to be a top issue for VNRC. From the successful passage of a renewable energy bill during the 2003 Legislative Session and the leadership to help successfully pass 79 town meeting resolutions for renewable energy, to the creation of a manual on how Vermonters can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 10% and the leadership needed in the debate over the siting of wind power installations, VNRC continues to fight for policies that promote the use of renewable energy sources and support the growing number of small businesses in the renewable energy industry.

On October 11th we will host our final celebration at Shelburne Farms’ Coach Barn. A full day of activities for friends and family, the celebration will kick off at 1:30 PM with workshops ranging from a tour of the Beeken Parson’s sustainable furniture shop to a viewing of So Goes Vermont and a discussion with award-winning film maker John Karol. Special guests will include: the Woodstock High School Speak Chorus, State Poets Galway Kinnell, Grace Paley, Jay Parini & Ellen Bryant Voigt, Senator Jim Jeffords, and musician Jon Gailmor. A wine and cheese reception will follow the afternoon’s activities. Please join us for this special finale celebrating our 40th year preserving and protecting Vermont’s environment!

Untamed Vermont

If you are familiar with VNRC’s publications, brochures, and other printed materials, you probably are also familiar with Blake Gardner’s beautiful photographs. For over six years, Blake has been providing VNRC with incredible photos of Vermont’s special places. Blake’s generosity has been invaluable as we work to educate people about the importance of protecting Vermont’s natural resources.

Blake and Thistle Hill Publications are presenting a new book, Untamed Vermont. The book is comprised of Blake’s award-winning photographs of Vermont’s wild places. It also includes forwards by Senator Patrick Leahy and Tom Wessels, a professor of Ecology at Antioch New England Graduate School and author of Reading the Forested Landscape: A Natural History of New England.

Wind Energy in Vermont- Mountain Views vs. Clean Power

After years of discussing renewable energy as a source of electricity, it now seems that the time has come for renewable energy to become a part of how we power our future. VNRC supports increased renewable energy in Vermont because we believe it has the potential to help to displace the need for dangerous nuclear power and polluting fossil fuels. Several companies are looking at sites in Vermont to develop wind farms. The economic reality of where these wind farms need to be situated in Vermont, however, can come into conflict with our aesthetic reality. Vermont's sites for wind farms are generally ridges between 2,500 and 3,500 feet. And these wind farms can be big-- often 20 to 40 clustered towers that can reach 350 feet into the sky.

There are three major proposals currently being discussed in Vermont: one is located on Magic Mountain Ski Area in Londonderry; the second is located on East Mountain in East Haven; the third is located adjacent to the current wind farm in Searsburg. Developers are also gathering data at sites on Lowell Mountain in Lowel, Equinox Mountain in Manchester, and Hardscrabble Mountain in Sheffield.

VNRC believes that proper planning is the key for the future of wind energy in Vermont that can avert conflict between utilities, developers, and citizens concerned about the aesthetic character of their regions. We support wind energy in Vermont and are encouraged by it's promising future. However, we also want to make sure that standards are set in place that protect roadless areas, valuable habitat , and spectacular ridgetop views. Additionally, we want to ensure that any new construction of wind farms is also met with greater investment in energy efficiency measures. VNRC firmly believes that as Vermont continues to develop, citizen involvement in how we choose to develop becomes more important.

VELCO Line Upgrades- Efficiency or more power?

Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO) has filed an application to the Public Service Board for a project called the Northwest Reliability Project. Part of the project is to erect 345-kV lines through Rutland and Addison Counties and to add more 115-kV lines through Addison and Chittenden Counties.

VNRC has some concerns about the VELCO Northwest Reliability Project. VNRC believes that we could avoid some of the impacts associated with line upgrades (and the herbicides, aesthetic impacts, wildlife fragmentation and health concerns that are associated with high voltage transmission lines) that pass through backyards, fragile wetlands and stream corridors if we focused on better demand-side management. Chittenden County's population explosion is certainly creating a bigger demand for electricity and there is tremendous potential to make sure that the electric demands are met through increased efficiency instead of increased supply.

Green Mountain National Forest Planning - Future of the forest at stake

VNRC continues to participate in planning discussions regarding the current revision of the forest plan for the Green Mountain National Forest. We have been attending public meetings and other discussions regarding issues such as Wilderness designation, timber harvesting and recreational use on the forest. In addition, we have been busy tracking numerous rulemakings out of Washington, DC that will diminish public input and environmental review for timber harvesting and forest planning on the national forests. VNRC will continue to advocate for local input and environmental review for proposed projects and forest planning on the Green Mountain National Forest. READ MORE...

Missisquoi Bay- The pollution isn't getting much better

What's new with Missisquoi Bay? Nothing, and that's just the problem. The same old monstrous load of sediment and phosphorus that has historically entered the bay continues because the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture have negligent in controlling stormwater runoff from agricultural sources -- these sources contribute over 70% of the phosphorus to Mississquoi Bay. To compound the problem, ANR has issued permits for wastewater treatment facilities in Mississquoi Bay allowing additional phosphorous loads than the current clean-up plan allows.

Stormwater Continues to Plague Already Impaired Waters

When rain and snowmelt flows across rooftops, parking lots, streets, and driveways, it creates what is known as stormwater runoff. On its way to Vermont’s rivers and lakes, stormwater runoff picks up sediment, phosphorous, toxins, pathogens, oil, grease, and other pollutants that create a nasty brew that can severely pollute our waters. Twenty-six streams in Vermont are so polluted by stormwater that they do not meet basic minimum water quality standards.

While advances have been made in methods of treating stormwater pollution, it still remains the fastest growing threat to Vermont’s water quality. Why? The stormwater permitting program at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) has been imploding since the mid 1990s. Funding and staffing shortages left the program all but abandoned, leading to the expiration of over 1,000 permits. Some treatment facilities were never built; others have been left in a state of disrepair. Legislation aimed at fixing the problem was passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2000 and 2002, but ANR has yet to craft a program for effectively treating stormwater runoff or cleaning up waters polluted by stormwater runoff.

Recent watershed-wide stormwater permits drafted by ANR (called Watershed Improvement Permits or WIPs) were challenged by VNRC and the Conservation Law Foundation at Vermont Water Resources Board (Board). VNRC appealed the permits for the four polluted Chittenden County streams believing that the WIPs were woefully inadequate to meet the 5 year timeline for coming back into compliance with water quality standards. The Board agreed. The Douglas Administration has said that it will seek legislative changes that will throw out the time line, but keep water quality standards in place. This begs the question: What is the point of even having standards if nobody has to meet them?

VNRC believes that solutions currently exist to clean up stormwater pollution, issue legal permits, and craft new WIPs that comply with state and federal law. Our polluted waters can’t wait any longer for effective clean up plans to go forward, and VNRC is busy crafting solutions that will solve the problem.

Clean Air Act Changes- Bush thumbs his nose at Vermont

The Bush Administration has weakened environmental protection laws once again. This time it is the Clean Air Act. Under a new rule of the Bush Administration, old, dirty power plants can increase emissions of pollutants without having to install best-available pollution control technology. It’s a win for industry and a huge loss for residents in the Northeast. We live downwind of Midwest power plants that spew smog, soot, mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Mothers and children are warned against eating fish contaminated by acid rain pollutants. Too many Northeasterners suffer from asthma, lung disease and cancer. Forests and wildlife also suffer the consequences of acid rain and other toxic pollution.

On August 27 concerned mothers along with friends from the Vermont Natural Resources Council held a protest on the State House lawn in Montpelier. Outraged parents discussed the high childhood asthma rates in the Northeast, as well as concerns over acid rain and toxic mercury in our fish. Staff from Senator Jeffords office joined in declaring that Bush's rule is illegal and that it will be challenged in court. According to Senator Jeffords, it (the rule) "...undermines the environmental legacy of the first President Bush and guts decades of progress we've made on cleaning up dirty power plants. This rule is a victory for polluting power plants and devastating defeat for public health and the environment."

Smart Growth Collaborative presents

For one day in October, Vermont will be the epicenter of a nationwide movement for vital communities. The Smart Growth movement, from grass roots leaders to think tank experts, will meet in Burlington to share strategies and swap stories, and to celebrate progress in state efforts to revitalize downtowns, protect farms and forests, and achieve a balance between growth and quality of community life.

Nongame Program- Wildlife habitat means more than deer habitat

The Nongame and Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) performs vital work related to research and management of nongame species, natural communities, and threatened and endangered species in Vermont. However, the Nongame and Natural Heritage Program receives only 3% of the overall budget of the Fish and Wildlife Department. Budgetary constraints are impacting the ability of the NNHP to perform its duties. For example, 195 plant and animal species are currently listed as threatened or endangered in Vermont, yet only a handful of recovery plans for these species have been accomplished to date.

Quite simply, increased program funding is needed. And the public agrees. Sixty percent of Vermont residents believe that more money should be spent on managing and protecting endangered species. According to the NNHP, an overall budget of $1,000,000 dollars would help curb deficient funding and staffing and allow the NNHP to implement important monitoring and inventory efforts, recovery planning, and state permitting procedures. VNRC has been lobbying the administration for this budget increase, and we are currently gathering signatures from citizens and professionals who support a stronger Nongame and Natural Heritage Program in Vermont. Stay tuned for our upcoming report on creative funding strategies for habitat protection in the State.

Permit Reform Update

The ongoing debate about how best to “reform” Vermont’s process of reviewing development projects is still raging, albeit with less attention from the press. During the 2003 Legislative Session, Governor Douglas unveiled a “permit reform” bill that VNRC believes would weaken environmental protections and cut citizens out of the permitting process. An acrimonious debate ensued, and no resolution could be reached by session’s end.

Recently, the Environmental Board has taken yet another a stab at “permit reform” by attempting to limit who may participate in Act 250 hearings by focussing on the details of which Vermonters can engage in permitting decisions that effect them. VNRC opposes the proposed changes.

Because the debate about permit reform has not yet been resolved, VNRC expects the debate to spill into the 2004 Legislative Session. While there are constructive ways to improve Vermont’s system of environmental permitting, VNRC believes that some key issues have been left out of the debate so far. There has been no attempt to shore up our laws to ensure the environment is actually getting the protection it deserves nor to tackle the effectiveness of planning which often leads to unnecessary battles in Act 250. And the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources remains one of the weakest links in the permit process, a problem which would have been exacerbated by the Governor’s proposal.

VNRC will continue to push for changes that make sense and that treat real problems. Legislating by anecdote, a tactic that is often employed to deal with regulatory issues, only leads to bigger problems in the future.

ATV Expansion Efforts - Ban of ATVs on State Public Lands in Jeopardy

State law currently prohibits ATV use on state public lands. In 2001, the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) compiled a report on the environmental and social effects of ATV's and off road vehicles. In the report, the ANR's Board of State Land Stewardship unanimously agreed with the Agency's ATV Committee that regulations prohibiting ATV use on state lands "should not be legislatively or administratively relaxed." According to the ATV Committee, existing studies "paint a disturbing pattern of negative environmental impacts with few studies having neutral results, and none having beneficial outcomes."

Despite a current ban on ATVs on public lands, there are hundreds of illegal use violations reported per year, and ANR has documented tens of thousands of dollars in physical damage to the landscape. Problems associated with illegal ATV use are getting worse, and the Vermont Legislature is taking interest in revisiting ATV policy in the state.

On July 9th, 2003, Representative Frank Mazur (R-Burlington) initiated a hearing to discuss various aspects of state policy regarding ATVs. Issues ranging from access to enforcement were discussed. The Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association (VASA) testified that improved access to state lands will be necessary to decrease the number of violations occurring to date. In other words, the 100,000 plus ATVs that exist in the state need a place to go, or illegal encroachment on public land will continue.

VNRC is gearing up for what could be an important debate on ATV access in the state. Just recently, Jamey Fidel, VNRC's Forest and Biodiversity Program Director participated on Vermont Pulbic Radio's Switchboard program to discuss ATV use on public lands. VNRC agrees with the Agency of Natural Resource's assessment that our public lands cannot absorb additional environmental impacts from ATVs. There is currently a need to understand whether Vermont's public lands can even accommodate the environmental impacts associated with existing non-motorized and snowmobile usage. Until information is available, VNRC cannot support adding additional air, soil, wildlife and water quality impacts to the land from ATV use.

VNRC Across Vermont- Once again, we all had fun

The second series of VNRC Across Vermont events has come to an end. Highlights of this year's trip included a tour with the energetic and lively John Hurley of his sustainable woodlot, biodiesel manufacturing operation and biodiesel powered mill, a canoe trip down the Clyde River with local guide Ross Stevens, a trip to the Searsburg Wind Farm and workshops on how homeowners can bring renewable energy systems into their own homes. We look forward to planning next year's VNRC Across Vermont events.

New web tool for Vermont's enviros

VNRC has made a new addition to our webpage. From now on Vermonters will be able to use our webpage to track environmental coverage in the media. Any media item that appears about Vermont environmental issues, and also some important national issues, will be chronicled at the "Enviro News" section of our webpage. We hope that activists and policy makers will be able to see this online database to learn about the background of many of the issues that concern us. CLICK FOR NEWS

Environmental Board Hearings On Act 250 Rules

The Environmental Board has proposed major changes to its rules which will put citizen access to Act 250 and appeal rights in serious jeopardy. Comments on the Proposed Rules will be accepted until 4:30 PM, October 8, 2003.

Written comments should be sent to:
Denise Wheeler
Vermont Environmental Board
National Life Records Building
Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620

Comments may also be submitted via email to: dwheeler@envboard.state.vt.us
Questions about the proposed rule revisions should be directed to Michael Zahner, Executive Director, 828-3300.


Contact Steve Holmes at VNRC 223-2328 or sholmes@vnrc.org to find out how you can help.