House Takes Vital Step Toward Water Protection

February 15, 2006

Yesterday, Vermont’s House of Representatives took an important first step toward protecting the state’s irreplaceable drinking water resources by voting overwhelmingly in support of H.294, a bill that has been a major focus of VNRC’s efforts in the State House this year. This comes little more than a week after the Vermont House Fish, Wildlife, and Water Resources Committee passed H.294 out of committee on a tri-partisan vote that fell one vote short of a unanimous endorsement.

“The Legislature has a responsibility to be proactive, rather than reactive, with regard to protecting Vermont’s drinking water supply,” noted Representative Steve Adams (R–Hartland), Chair of the House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee. “VNRC deserves credit for taking a leadership role in the State House by bringing this issue to our attention and helping to escort the groundwater protection bill out of the House.”

The bipartisan leadership and strong commitment to advancing this important piece of legislation is evidenced by the 91 to 43 vote in the House yesterday.

Specifically the bill calls for:

• Establishment of a five-year moratorium on commercial and industrial groundwater withdrawals — including water bottlers that draw water from wells or springs — over 50,000 gallons per day. (The moratorium will hold until Vermont passes comprehensive groundwater protection and withdrawal standards.) The 50,000 gallon threshold is consistent with other states, including neighboring New Hampshire, which regulates commercial and industrial water withdrawals that exceed 56,000 gallons per day;
• The creation of a task force which is charged with making recommendations on whether groundwater should be declared a public trust resource (as it has been in other states including New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts), whether Vermont should establish a comprehensive groundwater regulatory program, and to investigate potential sources of funding for groundwater mapping and a schedule for completing groundwater mapping.
• The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to immediately explore funding for groundwater mapping with the federal U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“This is a really positive step forward, and VNRC appreciates the legislative leadership on this issue, especially that of Representatives Adams and Deen,” said Jon Groveman, VNRC’s Water Program Director. “Most of Vermont’s neighboring states have already taken action to safeguard their drinking water. The moratorium provides temporary protection against a major developer entering the state to withdraw massive quantities of Vermont’s groundwater. However, until Vermont takes long term comprehensive action to protect our groundwater, we remain vulnerable to overconsumption, depletion, and commodification of this irreplaceable resource.”

The House vote moves Vermont one step closer to having the protections in place to safely manage Vermont’s fresh water. There is more work to be done, however. The bill will now go to the Senate Natural Resource Committee for consideration. This is an important time to make certain your Senators know that you support serious action to protect groundwater in the state. To learn more about VNRC’s work on this issue, click here.