Bill > H0542

This bill proposes to stop the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) from conducting new indoor air quality tests for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Vermont public and independent schools built or renovated before 1980, though testing will continue if a school previously tested positive for PCBs above state action levels. PCBs are a group of man-made chemicals that were banned in the U.S. in the late 1970s due to their harmful health effects. The bill mandates that the State of Vermont will continue to cover the costs for investigating, cleaning up, and removing PCBs from schools where ANR testing already found levels exceeding state guidelines. However, the State will not pay for PCB cleanup if it's part of a planned renovation or construction project, unless it's for the Burlington School District. The bill also requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to develop a long-term plan for addressing PCB contamination in schools by January 15, 2027, and for the Commissioner of Health to update their assessment of health impacts from airborne PCBs. Starting in 2027, the ANR will provide an annual report on PCB testing status, remedial actions, and funding.