VERMONT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Air Quality and Climate Division – Implements state regulations and the federal Clean Air Act. As part of this implementation, the AQCD monitors ambient air quality and air pollution emissions from sources, proposes regulations to improve existing air quality, ensures compliance with the regulations, and issues permits to control pollution from sources of air contaminants across the state.

Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) – The Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) funds, tracks, and reports on priority projects to restore Vermont’s waters, and communicates progress toward meeting water quality restoration targets outlined in the Total Maximum Daily Loads (or TMDLs). CWIP’s annual Clean Water Initiative Performance Report documents water quality improvement, phosphorus reductions and funding allocations every year.  CWIP also coordinates funding, tracking, and reporting of clean water efforts for federal and state partners, including Clean Water Initiative partner state agencies – the Agencies of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Commerce and Community Development; Natural Resources; and Transportation – and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In addition, CWIP offers technical expertise in stormwater master planning, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and green infrastructure. 

Drinking Water and Groundwater Program - Protects public health by helping to assure safe, affordable drinking water is available to all and by protecting the quality of the state’s groundwater.  

Environmental Assistance Office - The Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) helps Vermonters follow environmental regulations, reduce impacts to human health and the environment, and increase sustainability. We offer environmental compliance assistance to Vermont businesses and municipalities, provide recognition programs for green businesses in Vermont, and promote practices that reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollution at its source. EAO assists individuals, businesses, communities, state agencies, and others to identify effective and economical ways to reduce waste and pollution at the source. Our team is made up of Permit Specialists and Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Specialists.

Environmental Enforcement Section - The Office is staffed by a Director, a Chief Environmental Enforcement Officer, and an Administrative Services Coordinator located in Montpelier and seven Environmental Enforcement Officers (EEOs) located within designated geographical districts throughout the state. EEOs are responsible for the investigation and documentation of any/all alleged violations (including citizen complaints) of Vermont's environmental permits, rules, regulations, and statutes that are under the jurisdiction of DEC and the Department of Forest Parks and Recreation (DFPR). Some DEC violations also involve violations of Act 250 permits or regulations. EEOs coordinate with NRB staff on these cases. See the NRB Enforcement page for more information on their jurisdiction.

Watershed Management Division - The Watershed Management Division is responsible for protecting, maintaining, enhancing and restoring the quality of Vermont's surface water resources. Inherent in this effort is the support of both healthy ecosystems and public uses in and on Vermont’s 800 lakes and ponds, 23,000 miles of rivers and streams and 300,000 acres of wetlands. Division programs address many issues, including physical and chemical characteristics of surface waters, aquatic habitat, streamflow, stream morphology, invasive exotic species, and wetland, shoreland and riparian zone protection.

Water Investment Division - coordinates investment of State and federal funding to all types of clean water and drinking water infrastructure in Vermont.  The Division manages the State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF) for clean water and drinking water infrastructure, and the Department’s proportion of annual Clean Water Fund and Capital Fund dollars that support water infrastructure throughout Vermont.  The Division coordinates annual reporting for all funds, publishing annual State Revolving Fund, Clean Water Investment, and Tactical Basin Planning Reports, and serves to integrate other agencies of State Government that also participate in clean water funding, such as Agency of Agriculture, Commerce and Community Development, and Transportation.  The Division provides project engineering and implementation services to the Agency for a variety of projects, including construction and maintenance of state park facilities, fish culture stations, access areas, and dams. The Division also operates the Dam Safety Program, which regulates non-power, non-federal dams and endeavors to protect public safety relative to dams.

Geological Survey - The Vermont Geological Survey, also known as the Division of Geology and Mineral Resources in the Department of Environmental Conservation, conducts research and mapping relating to the geology, resources and topography of the State. Accessible geoscience data, maps and publications provide a foundation for stewardship of natural resources and for support of infrastructure. The Survey also provides information to the public, government, industry, and other organizations who request assistance; reviews projects as they relate to Criteria 9D and 9E of Act 250; and maintains and publishes Vermont geological information. 

Waste Management and Prevention Division - Oversees the use, treatment, and handling of hazardous and solid wastes. The Division performs emergency response for hazardous materials spills, issues permits for federal and state programs regulating hazardous wastes, solid wastes, salvage yards, and underground storage tanks, and manages cleanup at hazardous sites under state and federal authorities, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as Superfund).