Agriculture Secretary Announces New Date For Public Hearing on Proposed BMP’s for Farms in the Missisquoi Bay Basin
Public Hearing Date Changed to November 12th, 2015
Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Chuck Ross reissued a Notice of Public Hearing to provide the public additional and sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed Revised Secretary’s Decision for the Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) petition to require mandatory agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Missisquoi Bay Basin. The new date for the public hearing is November 12, 2015.
Unprotected farm fields yield topsoil as well as farm fertilizers and other potential pollutants when heavy rains occur.
The proposed Revised Secretary’s Decision is subject to public input. It is one element of the framework negotiated between the Ag Agency and CLF to settle the pending court litigation related to the Missisquoi Basin.
The Secretary became aware that the originally proposed timing of public hearing placed a burden on farmers during the busy harvest season. To allow for as much public input from farmers as possible, the decision was made to reissue the Notice of Public Hearing for November 12. Rescheduling the hearing allows more notice to farmers and affected citizens and greater opportunity for comment and input.
The rescheduled public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2015, in St. Albans City, from 1 PM until 3 PM, at the American Legion, 100 Parah Drive. Written comment will also be accepted until 4:30 PM November 23, 2015.
The full Notice of Public Hearing, the proposed Revised Secretary’s Decision, and the draft Stipulation of the Parties for Remand, which contain background and additional explanatory information, can be accessed here: http://agriculture.vermont.gov/water-quality/news-events/clf-petition . Other additional information is available below.
Questions about the public hearing process and any written comments may be directed to:
James Leland, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05620 (802)-828-3478
or e-mailed to: AGR.MissisquoiBMP@vermont.gov
For more information about the Agency’s water quality initiatives, please visit http://agriculture.vermont.gov/water-quality
Related Documents:
· Notice of Public Hearing for November 12, 2015 (pdf)
· Proposed Revised Secretary’s Decision (pdf)
· Stipulation of the Parties for Remand (pdf):
The full text of the petition, including CLF’s rationale for its request, can be accessed at: http://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/CLF-Missisquoi-Bay-Ag-BMP-Petition-FINAL
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