The Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) has criticized the state Agency of Natural Resources' construction storm water management program, calling for drastic changes to effectively prevent tons of sediment from reaching waterways.

Kim Greenwood, formerly monitored state construction sites for storm water runoff as a staff member of the agency's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); she is now a staff scientist with VNRC and said that of 29 recent construction site visits, all but one area demonstrated violations, many of which were serious.

"Although we believe they [VNRC] have overstated the extent of noncompliance, we agree there is a need to increase formal enforcement actions," said Pete LaFlamme, director of DEC's Water Quality Division. The division issued 1,296 construction project permits in 2007 and zero violation fines, according to LaFlamme, who added that his division's main goal that year was to educate newly regulated homeowners and builders about storm water compliance rqeuirements. He also confirmed that the state of Vermont has issued only two violation fines since 1999.

Greenwood, however, noted, that the majority of the sites she has visited do not even utilize hay mulch. Stricter enforcement, she said, would prompt builders to implement low-cost pollution control solutions to protect Lake Champlain and its tributaries.

Source: Rutland Herald