Keil Corey <kcorey@vnrc.org>

E­News ­ May 2016 

Vermont Natural Resources Council <info@vnrc.org> Tue, May 24, 2016 at 10:02 AMReply­To: kcorey@vnrc.orgTo: Keil Corey <kcorey@vnrc.org>

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E­News ­ May 2016

Spring has finally arrived: trees and flowers are blooming, greenvegetation blankets our forests and fields, and we’re celebrating byhitting the hiking trails, hopping on our bikes, and getting into thegarden.

With a number of legislative victories under our belt we’re alsocelebrating better safeguards for threatened and endangered species,improved tools to address forest fragmentation, an improved process

for achieving the state’s clean energy goals, and stronger measures to prevent, detect and respond tohazardous chemicals in our drinking water. For these reasons and so many more, we hope you’re alsocelebrating the springtime and will continue to support our work on the environmental priorities youcare about. As always, we thank you for your support!

Freevtrivers.org Launched to Highlight Benefits of Dam Removal

The Vermont Natural Resources Council is pleased to announce thelaunch of “freevtrivers.org,” a website designed to educate people aboutthe benefits of removing dams that no longer serve a publicbenefit – for fish, people and communities. Successful dam removalrequires the collaboration of multiple partners and this site representsthe work of VNRC and our partners, including the Vermont Chapter ofthe Nature Conservancy, American Rivers, Connecticut RiverWatershed Council, Vermont Council of Trout Unlimited, Lake

Champlain International and others committed to re-connecting our rivers and streams.

“Nineteen dams have been removed in the past 20 years and we would like to see an acceleration ofthis effort. There are significant environmental and economic benefits to removing useless damsfrom our rivers. And in light of climate change and our state’s clean water goals, we’ll continue tomake the removal of dams that serve no public benefit a statewide priority,” said Brian Shupe, VNRCexecutive director.

Visit freevtrivers.org to learn more.

Vermont Gubernatorial Candidate Environmental Debate

 The Vermont Natural Resources Council and Vermont ConservationVoters will be co-hosting an environmental debate with all the majorgubernatorial candidates in Vermont's Republican and Democraticprimaries. The debate will take place on Wednesday, June 22 from5:30 – 8:30 p.m at the Chapel at the Vermont College of Fine Arts inMontpelier. The event will cover issues ranging from renewable energyand climate solutions to clean water, toxic chemicals, healthy forestsand wildlife, sustainable communities, and more. Space is limited, soplease RSVP to Keil Corey (kcorey@vnrc.org) to reserve your seattoday!

Video Highlights Efforts Connecting Habitat Across Eastern U.S. and Canada

 The Staying Connected Initiative recently released a short videohighlighting the ongoing efforts to restore and enhance landscapeconnections across the Northern Appalachian/Acadian region of theeastern U.S. and Canada. VNRC is a partner in the bi-nationalinitiative. Check out the video here.

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VNRC's Mission

Through research,education,collaboration andadvocacy, VNRCprotects andenhances Vermont’snaturalenvironments,vibrantcommunities,productive workinglandscapes, ruralcharacter andunique sense ofplace, and preparesthe state for futurechallengesand opportunities.

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VNRC Weighs in on Hazardous Waste and Groundwater Protection Rules

In response to the contamination of groundwater in Bennington andPownal, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation(DEC) proposed adding the chemicals PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)and PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) to the list of hazardous wastesregulated by the state. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyrecently released a draft report highlighting potential adverse healtheffects from ingesting PFOA, including links to thyroid disease, highcholesterol, early signs of liver damage, testicular and kidney cancer,and pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. VNRCsubmitted comments in support of adding these harmful chemicals tothe list of hazardous substances regulated by the state - particularly

since the chemicals are being found in people’s drinking water.

Read VNRC and Vermont Conservation Voters joint comments here.

VNRC Talks Smart Growth at Burlington Town Center Redevelopment Meeting Earlier this month, Burlington city councilors gave preliminaryapproval to a plan to redevelop the Burlington Town Center mall. Theproposed redevelopment would add 274 residential units, retail andoffice space, and a parking garage.

Last month, VNRC’s Kate McCarthy spoke to city councilors about theopportunities and benefits – for both housing and the environment - ofsmart growth in downtown Burlington. "If there’s a place for density inBurlington, this is it," said McCarthy.

VNRC Sees Pros and Cons of Dam Ownership Last month Legislators tasked the Vermont Hydropower WorkingGroup with reviewing the pros and cons of purchasing three dams onthe lower Connecticut River being sold by international energycompany TransCanada. The Vermont Agency of NaturalResources released a report that encourages the working group toanticipate a loss of revenue for these facilities due to the relicensingprocess. While there are still a lot of unanswered questions, VNRC’sJon Groveman is encouraged by the ongoing review process. "You have

an opportunity to be in control of renewable, base load power, and have the public overseeing thelicensing, operation, and  management of these facilities,” said Groveman.

Trainings Continue to Help Landowners Conserve Forests

VNRC is working from the Legislature to the grassroots to stop thegrowing trend of forest fragmentation across the state.  While VNRCand our members earned an important legislative victory with thepassage of the forest integrity bill this session, which is currentlywaiting for the Governor's signature, there’s still more work to do. “Anestimated 17% of landowners in Vermont owning more than 10 acresor more are planning to sell or transfer their land in the next 5 years,”said Jamey Fidel, VNRC forest and wildlife program director, “and it’s

important that we get ahead of what could be a significant change of land use.”

 Earlier this month, VNRC convened a training for resource professionals who work with woodlandowners throughout Vermont. At the training, county foresters and wildlife biologists learnedstrategies to help woodland owners manage and conserve their forests for the long-term. The trainingis part of a larger effort to help real estate agents, engineers, and foresters work with landowners tokeep forests intact throughout Vermont.   

VNRC Meets with Jay Peak, State to Improve Water Quality at Resort

Jay Peak Resort has been in the news a lot lately. Recently, VNRC’sGeneral Counsel, Jamey Fidel, met with officials from the resort, butnot for the reason you might expect. Fidel, resort officials, and stafffrom the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and Natural ResourcesLaw Clinic at Vermont Law School met to discuss ongoing work toclean up impaired waters at the resort.

 Last year, VNRC, with the assistance of the Environmental andNatural Resources Law Clinic, entered into an agreement with Jay

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Natural Resources Law Clinic, entered into an agreement with JayPeak and ANR to boost pollution control practices for impaired rivers and streams at the resort.“Through the agreement, we are seeing more infrastructure going into clean water,” said Fidel, “andif water quality doesn’t improve by next year, construction may be halted, so there is an impetus toclean up the waters this year,” added Fidel. VNRC is hopeful the settlement agreement will movethings in a better direction in the near future.Last year, VNRC, with the assistance of the 

Opportunity to Weigh in on Farming Practices for Clean Water

This June Vermonters can contribute to the ongoing efforts to clean upthe state’s waters by submitted public comments on proposed rules toaddressing water quality on farms. As a result of passing the CleanWater Act last year - a bill VNRC strongly advocated for – the VermontAgency of Agriculture Farms and Markets (AAFM) was tasked withupdating Vermont's rules that regulate the impact of farms on rivers,streams, lakes and ponds. Recently, AAFM filed proposed changes,which are open to public comment through July 7th. Comments can be

delivered in person at any of five public hearings scheduled throughout the state in June, or byemailing the Agency of Agriculture.  

VNRC feels the proposed updates don’t go far enough to strengthen water quality standards forVermont farms and encourage people to attend one of the five public hearings to push for a strongerproposal.  “The riparian buffer provisions of the rule are extremely lenient, as are the rules related tokeeping animals out of public trust waters,” noted VNRC’s Jon Groveman.  “The message must besent loud and clear that if we are going to keep our waters clean and restore Lake Champlain we aregoing to need a much more robust proposal from AAFM,” said Groveman.

Information on the rules and public hearings can be found here.  Feel free to get in touch if you haveany questions and stay tuned for additional information about efforts to strengthen the proposal aswe get closer to the first public hearing.    

Join the Vermont Climate Economy Partnership

VNRC is a partner in the Vermont Climate Economy Initiative, an effortspearhead by the Vermont Council on Rural Development to unifybusiness owners, community leaders, policy makers, and Vermontresidents to position Vermont as a center for innovation,entrepreneurship, and business development. 

Exploring and advancing carbon pricing was one of the ClimateEconomy Council’s recommendations in its 7-point plan, highlightingthe ability of this tested approach to stimulate economic developmentand reduce carbon pollution. Learn more about the Council’s work, it’s7-point plan and join the partnership here.  

Vermont Youth Lobby Day

Hundreds of Vermont students rallied at the Vermont Legislature forYouth Lobby Day, calling for bold action on climate change. Onestudent organizer said the goal of the day was to mobilize the youth ofVermont to be more politically engaged on the issue of climate change.Students took the opportunity to talk with legislators and hear fromstate officials working on climate change policy. Speaking from apodium, one student remarked that a “carbon pollution tax wouldcause a systemic shift in the energy sector that would make it moresustainable, and more economically beneficial to Vermonters.” Watchthe remarks here and check out a video of the rally here.

Bike Service Now Available on Vermont Amtrak

Visitors and Vermonters alike can now take their bikes with them whentraveling on Amtrak’s Vermonter line. The service pilot is scheduled forthe next two seasons. 

“Developing convenient connections between transportation modes isessential to the success of our system and this is an important first stepin providing better access to Vermont’s transportation network,” saidVermont Transportation Secretary Chris Cole.

Read more here.

Vermonters Now Storing Renewable Energy at Home

Green Mountain Power (GMP) recently rolled out a pilot programoffering Tesla Powerwall batteries for interested ratepayers. GMP madean initial purchase of 500 units and is making them available throughdirect sale or lease. Incorporating battery storage will help utilities like

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direct sale or lease. Incorporating battery storage will help utilities likeGMP better integrate renewable energy, making electric grids moreefficient. Read more here.

World Bank, IMF Call for Price on Carbon Pollution

Leaders of nearly every country have signed on to the United NationsParis Climate Accord to address global warming, putting forth plans aspart of their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. About 90countries have included some form of carbon pricing in their plans, andthe World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other major globalinstitutions are working with countries to help develop carbon pricing

strategies.  Read more here.

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