The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is offering technical assistance to communities and individuals to expedite flood recovery in Vermont. Staff from the agency's Water Quality Division are available to answer questions and provide technical assistance in connection with work impacting wetlands, lakes and ponds, and involving stormwater management.
During this recovery period, the division will work to expedite approval for emergency repair work through a combination of existing emergency provisions in law, conditions in existing permits that allow repair work, and the exercise of enforcement discretion whereby the division may determine that work may proceed without permits. In some cases, but not all, a follow-up permit or approval will be issued in the months to come. Questions and requests for technical assistance should be directed to staff in the Wetlands, Lakes and Ponds, and Stormwater Programs as listed below or by calling the main number at 802-241-3777. Further contact information is available at www.vtwaterquality.org.
Wetlands: The Vermont Wetlands Rule provides that emergency repairs in a wetland and its buffer zone do not require a permit if the configuration of the wetland’s outlet or the flow of water into or out of the wetland is not altered; and work is related to emergency repair, cleanup, or maintenance of structures and facilities (including utility poles and lines, public transportation facilities, bulkheads, docks, piers, pilings, paved areas, houses, or other buildings) or emergency actions required to provide for public health, safety and welfare for disaster relief in connection with a federal or state-designated disaster. People who take emergency actions in wetlands should minimize impacts to the wetland to the extent possible and should seek technical assistance from the Vermont Wetlands program at the following numbers:
Shannon Morrison, District Wetlands Ecologist (Northeast Vermont) - (802) 241-3762
Alan Quackenbush, Program Manager (Northwest Vermont) - (802) 241-3761
Rebecca Chalmers, District Wetlands Ecologist (Central and Southern Vermont) - (802) 885-8851
Patti Greene-Swift (Northwestern Vermont) - (802) 879-2396 or (802) 279-2289
People who work in wetlands during this flood recovery period should also be aware that approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) may be required. The USACE New England Regional Office may be reached at (978) 318-8111.
Lakes and Ponds: The Lakes and Ponds Program staff is available to provide technical assistance to aid in addressing lakeshore stability and water quality issues. Visit the website www.vtwaterquality.org/lakes.htm for information and recommendations for natural shoreline stabilization options. All work in a lake, from the mean water level and lakeward, requires a permit from the Shoreland Encroachment Program. Contact Steven Hanna at [email protected] or (802) 241-3794 for information and technical assistance. If an eroding shoreline is an emergency, the program will determine if enforcement discretion may be utilized to expedite emergency work. In addition, you may contact Susan Warren, Lakes and Ponds Program Manager, at (802) 241-3794 for information regarding emergency work in lakes and ponds.
It is possible that the large amount of phosphorus and sediment entering Lake Champlain and other lakes as a result of the flooding will trigger late summer and fall algae blooms. Learn how to recognize a possible blue-green algae bloom and keep people and pets out of the water when they are present. See the Department of Health website for additional information: http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/bgalgae.aspx
Stormwater: All stormwater regulations remain in effect, however the Stormwater Program will be working to expedite approval of emergency work and exercising enforcement discretion as appropriate. Affected property owners are encouraged to contact Stormwater Program technical staff immediately to obtain any needed information and to arrange field consultations for the repair of existing stormwater systems and the construction of new structures and impervious surfaces which would have required a stormwater permit in non-emergency situations. This includes construction-related disturbances of greater than one acre and the construction of impervious surfaces equal to or greater than one acre. Field visits and approvals will be expedited for this emergency repair work and enforcement discretion exercised as appropriate.
Stormwater Program Contacts:
Padraic Monks, Program Manager- (802) 241-1453 or (802) 777-1778 (cell)
Tom Benoit (Northern Vermont) - (802) 241-3781
Kevin Burke (Chittenden County) - (802) 241-1418 or (802) 760-0762 (cell)
Christina Hutchinson (Central Vermont) - (802) 241-1511
Matt Probasco (Southwestern Vermont) - (802) 482-5255 or (802) 760-0804 (cell)
Ryan McCall (Statewide) - (802) 241-1006
For the complete list of water quality guidelines visit http://www.anr.state.vt.us/site/html/wq_flood_recovery.htm
For more information on flood clean-up and mitigation, visit the flood page on the ANR website at www.anr.state.vt.us.
VT ANR Montpelier. 9.8.2011
Vermont ANR offers technical assistance to expedite flood recovery
Submitted by tim
on