Vermont Statutes Title 3 Sec. 6005
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 3 Sec. 6005
- covered agencies: means the following State agencies, departments, and bodies: the Agencies of Natural Resources, of Transportation, of Commerce and Community Development, of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and of Education; the Public Utility Commission; the Natural Resources Board; and the Departments of Health, of Public Safety, and of Public Service. See
- Environmental burdens: means any significant impact to clean air, water, and land, including any destruction, damage, or impairment of natural resources resulting from intentional or reasonably foreseeable causes. See
- Environmental justice: means all individuals are afforded equitable access to and distribution of environmental benefits; equitable distribution of environmental burdens; and fair and equitable treatment and meaningful participation in decision-making processes, including the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. See
- Justice: when applied to a person, other than a Justice of the Supreme Court, shall mean a justice of the peace for the county for which he or she is elected or appointed. See
§ 6005. Rulemaking
(a) On or before July 1, 2025, the Agency of Natural Resources, in consultation with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee, shall adopt rules to:
(1) define cumulative environmental burdens;
(2) implement consideration of cumulative environmental burdens within the Agency of Natural Resources; and
(3) inform how the public and the covered agencies implement the consideration of cumulative environmental burdens and use the environmental justice mapping tool.
(b) On or before July 1, 2026 and as appropriate thereafter, the covered agencies, in consultation with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, shall adopt or amend policies and procedures, plans, guidance, and rules, where applicable, to implement this chapter.
(c)(1) Prior to drafting new rules required by this chapter, agencies shall consult with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council to discuss the scope and proposed content of rules to be developed. Agencies shall also submit draft rulemaking concepts to the Advisory Council for review and comment. Any proposed rule and draft Administrative Procedure Act filing forms shall be provided to the Advisory Council not less than 45 days prior to submitting the proposed rule or rules to the Interagency Committee on Administrative Rules (ICAR).
(2) The Advisory Council shall vote and record individual members’ support or objection to any proposed rule before it is submitted to ICAR. The Advisory Council shall submit the results of their vote to both ICAR and the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR). (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.)