Vermont Clean Water Act

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated Vermont to overhaul its farm regulation system due to failures in controlling phosphorus discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), which are negatively impacting Lake Champlain's water quality. The EPA's investigation revealed that the division of responsibilities between two state agencies hinders effective enforcement of the Clean Water Act. Currently, the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets split oversight, but the EPA is directing that the Agency of Natural Resources take sole responsibility for CAFO regulation. Excess phosphorus runoff, largely from agricultural sources, has fueled harmful algae blooms in the lake, prompting previous federal mandates for pollution limits. Environmental advocates have long criticized the state's management of CAFOs, asserting that the status quo is insufficient for protecting water quality. The EPA's actions signal a critical need for regulatory reform to address these ongoing environmental issues.