Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/DOCS/2006/ACTS/ACT078.HTM
Timestamp: 2017-12-12 21:52:28
Document Index: 737161839

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4810', '§ 4810', '§ 1259', '§ 4812', '§ 4813', '§ 4815', '§ 4815', '§ 4826', '§ 4826', '§ 4827', '§ 4827', '§ 4850', '§ 4850', '§ 4851', '§ 4852', '§ 4852', '§ 4853', '§ 4853', '§ 4858', '§ 4858', 'arts 9', '§ 1259', '§ 1263', '§ 2822', '§ 1264']

NO. 78. AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WATER QUALITY.
Sec. 1. 6 V.S.A. § 4810 is amended to read:
§ 4810. AUTHORITY; COOPERATION; COORDINATION
(a) Agricultural land use practices. In accordance with 10 V.S.A.
§ 1259(i), the secretary shall adopt by rule, pursuant to chapter 25 of Title 3, and shall implement and enforce agricultural land use practices in order to reduce the amount of agricultural pollutants entering the waters of the state. These agricultural land use practices shall be created in two categories, pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.
(1) “Accepted Agricultural Practices” (AAPs) shall be standards to be followed in conducting agricultural activities in this state. These standards shall address activities which have a potential for causing pollutants to enter the groundwater and waters of this the state, including dairy and other livestock operations plus all forms of crop and nursery operations. The AAPs shall include, as well as promote and encourage, practices for farmers in preventing pollutants from entering the groundwater and waters of the state when engaged in, but not limited to, animal waste management and disposal, soil amendment applications, plant fertilization, and pest and weed control. Persons engaged in farming, as defined in section 6001 of Title 10, who follow these practices shall be presumed to be in compliance with water quality standards. AAPs shall be practical and cost effective to implement. The AAPs for groundwater shall include a process under which the agency shall receive, investigate, and respond to a complaint that a farm has contaminated the drinking water or groundwater of a property owner.
(b) Cooperation and coordination. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets shall coordinate with the secretary of natural resources in implementing and enforcing programs, plans and practices developed for reducing and eliminating agricultural non-point source pollutants and discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of natural resources shall develop a memorandum of understanding for the non-point program describing program administration, grant negotiation, grant sharing and how they will coordinate watershed planning activities to comply with Public Law 92-500. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of the agency of natural resources shall also develop a memorandum of understanding according to the public notice and comment process of subsection 1259(i) of Title 10 regarding the implementation of the federal concentrated animal feeding operation program and the relationship between the requirements of the federal program and the state agricultural water quality requirements for large, medium, and small farms under chapter 215 of this title. The memorandum of understanding shall describe program administration, permit issuance, an appellate process, and enforcement authority and implementation. The memorandum of understanding shall be consistent with the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit regulations for discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations. The allocation of duties under this chapter between the secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of natural resources shall be consistent with the secretary’s duties, established under the provisions of section subsection 1258(b) of Title 10, to comply with Public Law 92-500. The secretary of natural resources shall be the state lead person in applying for federal funds under Public Law 92-500, but shall consult with the secretary of agriculture, food and markets during the process. The agricultural non-point source program may compete with other programs for competitive watershed projects funded from federal funds. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets shall be represented in reviewing these projects for funding. Actions by the secretary of agriculture, food and markets under this chapter concerning agricultural non-point source pollution shall be consistent with the water quality standards and water pollution control requirements of chapter 47 of Title 10 and the federal Clean Water Act as amended.
Sec. 2. 6 V.S.A. § 4812 is amended to read:
(a) When the secretary of agriculture, food and markets determines that a person engaged in farming is managing a farm using practices which are inconsistent with practices defined by rules under this chapter subchapter, the secretary may issue a written warning which shall be served in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested. The warning shall include a brief description of the alleged violation, identification of this statute and applicable rules, a recommendation for corrective actions that may be taken by the person, along with a summary of federal and state assistance programs which may be utilized by the person to remedy the violation and a request for an abatement schedule from the person according to which the practice shall be altered. The person shall have 30 days to respond to the written warning. If the person fails to respond to the written warning within this period or to take corrective action to change the practices in order to protect water quality, the secretary may act pursuant to subsection (b) of this section in order to protect water quality.
(b) After an opportunity for a hearing, the secretary may issue cease and desist orders and institute appropriate proceedings on behalf of the agency to enforce this chapter subchapter.
(c) Whenever the secretary believes that any person engaged in farming is in violation of this chapter subchapter, an action may be brought in the name of the agency in a court of competent jurisdiction to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction the continuation or repetition of the violation. The court may issue temporary or permanent injunctions, and other relief as may be necessary and appropriate to curtail any violations.
(c)(d) The secretary may assess administrative penalties in accordance with sections 15, 16, and 17 of this title against any farmer who violates a cease and desist order or other order issued under subsection (b) of this section.
(d)(e) Any person subject to an enforcement order or an administrative penalty who is aggrieved by the final decision of the secretary may appeal to the superior court within 30 days of the decision. The environmental judge shall be a specially assigned superior court judge The administrative judge may specially assign an environmental judge to superior court for the purpose of hearing an appeal.
Sec. 3. 6 V.S.A. § 4813(b) is amended to read:
(b) Any person engaged in farming that has been required by the secretary of agriculture, food and markets to implement best management practices or any person who has petitioned the secretary of agriculture, food and markets under subsection (a) of this section may appeal the secretary of agriculture, food and market’s decision to the water resources board environmental court de novo.
Sec. 4. 6 V.S.A. § 4815 is added to read:
§ 4815. WASTE STORAGE FACILITY
(a) No person shall construct a new waste storage facility or expand or modify a waste storage facility in existence on July 1, 2006 unless the facility meets the standard established for such facilities by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or an equivalent standard. If an equivalent design standard is used, the design and construction shall be certified by the secretary of agriculture, food and markets or a licensed professional engineer operating within the scope of his or her expertise.
(b) The secretary may require the owner or operator of a waste storage facility in existence on July 1, 2006, to modify the facility to meet the standard set forth in subsection (a) of this section if the facility poses a threat to human health or environment as established by a violation of the state groundwater protection standards. If the secretary determines that a facility that meets the standard set forth in subsection (a) of this section poses a threat to human health or the environment, the secretary may require the owner or operator of the facility to implement additional management measures. The costs of initial groundwater monitoring conducted to determine if a facility poses a threat to human health or the environment shall be paid by the secretary. Within 21 days of a determination under this subsection that a facility poses a threat to human health or the environment, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets shall notify the department of health and the secretary of natural resources of the location of the facility and the name of its owner or operator.
(c) For purposes of this section, “waste storage facility” means an impoundment made for the purpose of storing agricultural waste by constructing an embankment, excavating a pit or dugout, fabricating an in‑ground or above-ground structure, or any combination thereof. This section does not apply to concrete slabs used for agricultural waste management.
Sec. 5. 6 V.S.A. § 4826 is added to read:
§ 4826. COST ASSISTANCE FOR WASTE STORAGE FACILITIES
(a) The owner or operator of a farm required under section 4815 of this title to design, construct, or modify a waste storage facility may apply in writing to the secretary of agriculture, food and markets for cost assistance. Using state or federal funds or both, a state assistance grant shall be awarded, subject to the availability of funds, to applicants. Such grants shall not exceed 85 percent of the cost of an adequately sized and designed waste storage facility and the equipment eligible for Natural Resources Conservation Service cost share assistance. Application for a state assistance grant shall be made in the manner prescribed by the secretary. For purposes of this section, “waste storage facility” means an impoundment made for the purpose of storing agricultural waste by constructing an embankment, excavating a pit or dugout, fabricating an in-ground or above-ground structure, or any combination thereof. This section does not apply to concrete slabs used for agricultural waste management.
(b) If the secretary lacks adequate funds necessary for the cost assistance awards required by subsection (a) of this section, the secretary shall appear before the emergency board, as soon as possible, and shall request that necessary funds be provided. If the emergency board fails to provide adequate funds, the design and construction requirements for waste storage facilities under subsection 4815(b) of this title and the AAPs for groundwater, as they relate to a waste storage facility, shall be suspended for a farm with a waste storage facility subject to the requirements of subsection 4815(b) of this title until adequate funding becomes available. Suspension of the design and construction requirements of subsection 4815(b) of this title does not relieve an owner or operator of a farm permitted under section 4858 of this title from the remaining requirements of the owner’s or operator’s permit, including discharge standards, groundwater protection, nutrient management planning, and land application of manure. This subsection does not apply to farms permitted under section 1263 of Title 10 or farms permitted under section 4851 of this title.
Sec. 6. 6 V.S.A. § 4827 is added to read:
§ 4827. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANNING; INCENTIVE GRANTS
(a) A farm developing or implementing a nutrient management plan under chapter 215 of this title or federal regulations may apply to the secretary of agriculture, food and markets for financial assistance. The financial assistance shall be in the form of incentive grants. Annually, after consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, natural resources conservation districts, the University of Vermont extension service and others, the secretary shall determine the average cost of developing and implementing a nutrient management plan in Vermont. The dollar amount of an incentive grant awarded under this section shall be equal to the average cost of developing a nutrient management plan as determined by the secretary or the cost of complying with the nutrient management planning requirements of chapter 215 of this title or federal regulations, whichever is less.
(b) Application for a state assistance grant shall be made in a manner prescribed by the secretary and shall include, at a minimum:
(1) an estimated cost of developing and implementing a nutrient management plan for the applicant;
(2) the amount of incentive grant requested; and
(3) a schedule for development and implementation of the nutrient management plan.
(c) The secretary annually shall prepare a list of farms ranked, regardless of size, in priority order that have applied for an incentive grant under this section. The priority list shall be established according to factors that the secretary determines are relevant to protect the quality of waters of the state, including:
(1) the proximity of a farm to a water listed as impaired for agricultural runoff, pathogens, phosphorus, or sediment by the agency of natural resources;
(2) the proximity of a farm to an unimpaired water of the state;
(3) the proximity of a drinking water well to land where a farm applies manure; and
(4) the risk of discharge to waters of the state from the land application of manure by a farm.
(d) Assistance in accordance with this section shall be provided from state funds appropriated to the agency of agriculture, food and markets for integrated crop management.
(e) If the secretary lacks adequate funds necessary for the financial assistance required by subsection (a) of this section, the requirement to develop and implement a nutrient management plan under state statute or state regulation shall be suspended until adequate funding becomes available. Suspension of a state-required nutrient management plan does not relieve an owner or operator of a farm permitted under section 4858 of this title of the remaining requirements of a state permit, including discharge standards, groundwater protection, and land application of manure. This subsection does not apply to farms permitted under section 1263 of Title 10 or farms permitted under section 4851 of this title.
(f) The secretary may contract with natural resources conservation districts, the University of Vermont extension service, and other persons and organizations to aid in the implementation of the incentive grants program under subsection (a) of this section and to assist farmers in the development and implementation of nutrient management plans.
Sec. 7. 6 V.S.A. § 4850 is amended to read:
§ 4850. DEFINITIONS
(1) “Animal unit” means 1,000 pounds of live body weight of livestock. Animal units are calculated by adding the following numbers: the number of slaughter and feeder cattle multiplied by 1.0, plus the number of mature dairy cattle multiplied by 1.4, plus the number of swine weighing over 25 kilograms multiplied by 0.4, plus the number of sheep multiplied by 0.1, plus the number of horses multiplied by 2.0, for any large farm operation.
(2)(1) “Domestic fowl” means laying-hens, broilers, ducks, and turkeys.
(3)(2) “Livestock” means cattle, swine, sheep, or horses.
Sec. 8. 6 V.S.A. § 4851 is amended to read:
(a) No person shall, without a permit from the secretary, construct a new barn, or expand an existing barn, designed to house more than 700 mature dairy animals, 1,000 cattle or cow/calf pairs, 1,000 veal calves, 2,500 swine weighing over 55 pounds, 10,000 swine weighing less than 55 pounds, 500 horses, 10,000 sheep or lambs, 55,000 turkeys, 30,000 laying hens or broilers with a liquid manure handling system, 82,000 laying hens without a liquid manure handling system, 125,000 chickens other than laying hens without a liquid manure handling system, 5,000 ducks with a liquid manure handling system, or 30,000 ducks without a liquid manure handling system. No permit shall be required to replace an existing barn in use for livestock or domestic fowl production at its existing capacity. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets, in consultation with the secretary of natural resources, shall review any application for a permit under this section with regard to water quality impacts and, prior to approval of a permit under this subsection, shall issue a written determination regarding whether the applicant has established that there will be no unpermitted discharge to waters of the state pursuant to the federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. If upon review of an application for a permit under this subsection, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets determines that the permit applicant may be discharging to waters of the state, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of natural resources shall respond to the discharge in accordance with the memorandum of understanding regarding concentrated animal feeding operations under subsection 4810(b) of this title. The secretary of natural resources may require a large farm to obtain a permit under section 1263 of Title 10 pursuant to federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations.
(d) A person seeking a permit under this section shall apply in writing to the secretary. The application shall include a description of the proposed barn or expansion of animal units livestock or domestic fowl; a proposed nutrient management plan to accommodate the number of livestock or domestic fowl the barn is designed to house or expand to; and a description of the manure management system to be used to accommodate agricultural wastes.
Sec. 9. 6 V.S.A. § 4852 is amended to read:
§ 4852. RULES
The secretary may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 25 of Title 3 concerning program administration, program enforcement, appeals and standards for waste management and waste storage, setbacks or siting criteria for new construction or expansion, groundwater contamination, odor, noise, traffic, insects, flies, and other pests in order to implement this subchapter. In no case shall the rules be stricter than the federal regulations when adjusted where appropriate to 95 percent of the federal threshold governing concentrated animal feeding operations, as set forth in the EPA Guide Manual on NPDES Regulations and in EPA Document 833-B-95-001 of December, 1995. The siting criteria adopted by the secretary by rule shall be consistent with the standards for the quality of state waters and standards for acceptable agricultural practices pursuant to subchapter 2 of this chapter. The groundwater contamination rules adopted by the secretary shall include a process under which the agency shall receive, investigate, and respond to a complaint that a farm has contaminated the drinking water or groundwater of a property owner.
Sec. 10. 6 V.S.A. § 4853 is amended to read:
§ 4853. INFORMATIONAL MEETING
(a) Upon receipt by the secretary of a permit application for construction of a new barn under this subchapter, the secretary shall establish an advisory group to assist in reviewing the application. The advisory group shall consist of, in addition to the secretary, the secretary of natural resources or his or her duly authorized representative, a farmer appointed by the governor, and a representative of the legislative body of the municipality in which the proposed facility would be located. Such representative shall be appointed by the legislative body but need not be a resident of the municipality. The secretary may establish the advisory group pursuant to this subsection upon receipt of a permit application for expansion of an existing barn under this subchapter.
(b) The secretary shall conduct an informational meeting in a municipality when there is a proposal to construct a new barn, within the municipality, that would require a permit under this subchapter.
(b)(c) The secretary may conduct an informational meeting in a municipality in which a barn expansion is sought, if the barn is already subject to permitting requirements under this subchapter.
(c)(d) The secretary shall upon request prepare in writing the response of the agency to matters raised during a meeting held pursuant to this section, or submitted to the secretary in writing. Such response shall pertain to considerations required under this subchapter.
Sec. 11. 6 V.S.A. § 4858 is amended to read:
§ 4858. ANIMAL WASTE PERMITS
(b) Rules; general and individual permits. The secretary shall establish by rule, pursuant to chapter 25 of Title 3, requirements for a “general permit” and “individual permit” to ensure that medium and small farms generating animal waste comply with the water quality standards of the state.
(1) “General” and “individual” permits issued under this section shall be consistent with rules adopted under this section, shall include terms and conditions appropriate to each farm size category and each farm animal type as defined by section 4857 of this title and shall meet standards at least as stringent as those established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for concentrated animal feeding operations, as set forth in USEPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations; Final Rule, 68 Fed. Reg. 7176 (2004)(to be codified at 40 C.F.R. Parts 9, 122, 123, 68, and 412) federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. Such standards shall address waste management, waste storage, development of nutrient management plans, carcass disposal, and surface water and groundwater contamination, plus recordkeeping and, reporting regarding such matters, and monitoring provisions regarding such matters to ensure that the terms and conditions of the permit are being met. The groundwater contamination rules adopted by the secretary under this section shall include a process under which the agency shall receive, investigate, and respond to a complaint that a farm has contaminated the drinking water or groundwater of a property owner.
(c)(1) Medium farm general permit. The owner or operator of a medium farm seeking coverage under a general permit adopted pursuant to this section shall certify to the secretary within a period specified in the permit, and in a manner specified by the secretary, that the medium farm does comply with permit requirements regarding an adequately sized and designed manure management system to accommodate the wastes generated and a nutrient management plan to dispose of wastes in accordance with accepted agricultural practices adopted under this chapter. Any certification or notice of intent to comply submitted under this subdivision shall be kept on file at the agency of agriculture, food and markets. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets, in consultation with the secretary of natural resources, shall review any certification or notice of intent to comply submitted under this subdivision with regard to the water quality impacts of the medium farm for which the owner or operator is seeking coverage, and, within 18 months of receiving the certification or notice of intent to comply, shall verify whether the owner or operator of the medium farm has established that there will be no unpermitted discharge to waters of the state pursuant to the federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. If upon review of a medium farm granted coverage under the general permit adopted pursuant to this subsection, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets determines that the permit applicant may be discharging to waters of the state, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of natural resources shall respond to the discharge in accordance with the memorandum of understanding regarding concentrated animal feeding operations under subsection 4810(b) of this title.
(2) The owner or operator of a small farm may seek coverage under the medium farm general permit adopted pursuant to this section by certifying to the secretary, in a manner specified by the secretary, that the small farm complies with the requirements and conditions of the medium farm general permit.
(d) Medium and small farms; individual permit. Upon determination by the secretary that a medium or small farm may be a significant contributor of pollutants to the waters of the state, the secretary may require the farm to obtain an individual permit in order to continue in operation The secretary may require the owner or operator of a small or medium farm to obtain an individual permit to operate after review of the farm’s history of compliance, application of accepted agricultural practices, the use of an experimental or alternative technology or method to meet a state performance standard, or other factors set forth by rule. The owner or operator of a small farm may apply to the secretary for an individual permit to operate under this section. To receive such a an individual permit, an applicant shall in a manner prescribed by rule demonstrate that the farm has an adequately sized and designed manure management system to accommodate the wastes generated and a nutrient management plan to dispose of wastes in accordance with accepted agricultural practices adopted under this chapter, including setback requirements for waste application. An individual permit shall be valid for no more than five years. Any application for an individual permit filed under this subsection shall be kept on file at the agency of agriculture, food and markets. The secretary of agriculture, food and markets, in consultation with the agency of natural resources, shall review any application for a permit under this subsection and, prior to issuance of an individual permit under this subsection, shall issue a written determination regarding whether the permit applicant has established that there will be no unpermitted discharge to waters of the state pursuant to federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. If, upon review of an application for a permit under this subsection, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets determines that the permit applicant may be discharging to waters of the state, the secretary of agriculture, food and markets and the secretary of natural resources shall respond to the discharge in accordance with the memorandum of understanding regarding concentrated animal feeding operations under subsection 4810(b) of this title. The secretary of natural resources may require a medium or small farm to obtain a permit under section 1263 of Title 10 pursuant to federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. Coverage of a medium farm under a general permit adopted pursuant to this section or an individual permit issued to a medium or small farm under this section is rendered void by the issuance of a permit to a farm under section 1263 of Title 10.
Sec. 12. 10 V.S.A. § 1259(f) is amended to read:
Sec. 13. 10 V.S.A. § 1263(g) is added to read:
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who owns or operates a concentrated animal feeding operation that requires a permit under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit regulations shall submit an application to the secretary for a discharge permit and pay the required fees specified in 3 V.S.A. § 2822. On or before July 1, 2007, the secretary of natural resources shall adopt rules implementing the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit regulations for discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations. Until such regulations are adopted, the substantive permitting standards and criteria used by the secretary to evaluate applications and issue or deny discharge permits for concentrated animal feeding operations shall be those specified by federal regulations. The secretary may issue an individual or general permit for these types of discharges in accordance with the procedural requirements of subsection (b) of this section and other state law. For the purposes of this subsection, “concentrated animal feeding operation” means a farm that meets the definition contained in the federal regulations.
Sec. 14. 10 V.S.A. § 1264(e)(2) is amended to read:
(A) stormwater Stormwater runoff from farms subject to accepted agricultural practices adopted by the secretary of agriculture, food and markets;
(C) for stormwater Stormwater runoff from silvicultural activities subject to accepted management practices adopted by the commissioner of forests, parks and recreation.
Sec. 15. AGENCY OF AGRICULTURE WATER QUALITY OUTREACH,
(a) Prior to February 2006, the agency of agriculture, food and markets shall develop educational and training programs and conduct public hearings to inform farmers in Vermont of the requirements of this act, the proposed general permit for medium farm operations, and the federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. In developing the education programs required by this section, the agency may utilize various types of media, group meetings, on-farm demonstrations, and one-on-one farm visits.
(b) The agency of agriculture, food and markets, in consultation with the agency of natural resources, shall coordinate the training of staff from the natural resources conservation districts, the University of Vermont extension service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other persons and organizations regarding the requirements of the state animal waste permit program and what may constitute a discharge from a concentrated animal feeding operation.
Sec. 16. ANNUAL REPORT
(a) On January 1 of each year, the agency of natural resources shall submit an annual report to the house and senate committees on agriculture, the house committee on fish, wildlife and water resources, and the senate committee on natural resources and energy regarding implementation by the agency of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for farms subject to the federal Clean Water Act regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The report shall include:
(1) a summary of the status of the federal regulations;
(2) a summary of the litigation challenging the federal regulations;
(3) a summary of any revised rulemaking by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
(4) a recommendation by the agency of natural resources regarding the rules regulating discharges from concentrated animal feeding operations;
(5) a copy of the memorandum of understanding for concentrated animal feeding operations required by section 4810 of Title 6 and a recommendation by the agency of natural resources regarding any need to amend the memorandum of understanding;
(6) an assessment of the impact on surface water quality of the implementation of agricultural water quality programs in the state; and
(7) a summary of the impact on small farms of the implementation of the NPDES permit program, including the number of small farms required to obtain an NPDES permit.
(b) On January 1 of each year, the agency of agriculture, food and markets shall submit an annual report to the house and senate committees on agriculture, the house committee on fish, wildlife and water resources, and the senate committee on natural resources and energy concerning the status of the state animal waste permit program. The report shall include:
(1) an assessment of the adequacy of agricultural waste storage and land application of manure on farms in Vermont;
(2) an assessment of the extent of the financial and technical resources required to implement successfully the state agricultural water quality program, including the number of nutrient management plans required, the number of waste storage facilities that require upgrading, and an estimate of the appropriations necessary to fund state assistance programs;
(3) the status of rulemaking for the medium farm general permit;
(4) the status of any pending or proposed rulemaking for large farms or accepted agricultural practices;
(5) a summary of the year-to-date funding of the nutrient management planning by the agency of agriculture, food and markets;
(6) a summary of agency efforts to develop educational programs and conduct public hearings to inform farmers in Vermont of the requirements of this act, the proposed general permit for medium farm operations, and the status of the federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations;
(7) an assessment of the impact of the state agricultural water quality program on small farms in Vermont, including the number of small farms voluntarily entering the program and the number of small farms required to obtain a state animal waste permit;
(8) a summary of the financial and technical assistance provided to farms, including the type and amount of assistance awarded according to farm size; and
(9) an assessment of the impact on the groundwater of the state of the implementation of the state agricultural water quality program.
Sec. 17. SUNSET
Sec. 16 of this act (annual report) shall be repealed on January 2, 2010.
Approved: June 24, 2005