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Bill > H0086


VT H0086

An act relating to establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources


summary

Introduced
01/24/2025
In Committee
04/29/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Session

Bill Summary

This bill proposes to require the Secretary of Natural Resources to establish the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program to train commercial salt applicators and municipal salt applicators in best management practices to most efficiently apply salt or salt alternatives and to prevent salt or salt alternatives from entering the waters of the State. A certified commercial applicator shall be presumed to be in compliance with water quality laws when applying salt or salt alternatives according to the best management practices established by the Program.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources to address salt and salt alternative applications that can contaminate water sources. The program will require the Secretary of Natural Resources to create an education and certification system for commercial and municipal salt applicators, focusing on best management practices that minimize salt use while maintaining safe travel conditions. The program includes developing comprehensive definitions of salt and salt alternatives, establishing training requirements for applicators, and creating a certification process that provides limited liability protection for certified applicators who follow established guidelines. Key provisions include developing a record-keeping system for salt purchases and applications, establishing salt reduction targets, creating annual reporting requirements, and mandating mapping and improved storage practices for salt facilities. The bill also requires enhanced monitoring of chloride levels in surface waters when contamination exceeds Environmental Protection Agency standards and appropriates $250,000 in initial funding for a third-party vendor to administer the program. Importantly, certified salt applicators who follow the best management practices will be presumed to be in compliance with water quality laws and protected from liability, except in cases of gross negligence.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Senate Committee on Judiciary Hearing (00:00:00 5/7/2025 ) (on 05/07/2025)

bill text


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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.86
Fiscal Note - H.86 – An act relating to establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources, As recommended by the House Committee on Appropriations https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/GENERAL-382983-v3-H_86_Fiscal_Note.pdf
Fiscal Note - VT LEG #382983 v.2 H.86 – An act relating to establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources, As recommended by the House Committee on Ways and Mean https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/GENERAL-382983-v2-H_86_Fiscal_Note.pdf
Fiscal Note - H.86 – An act relating to establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources, As recommended by the House Committee on Environment https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Uploads/GENERAL-382983-v1-H_86_Fiscal_Note-v3.pdf
BillText https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/2026/Docs/BILLS/H-0086/H-0086%20As%20Introduced.pdf
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