2023 Vermont Statutes › Title 3 - Executive › Chapter 72 - Environmental Justice › § 6004. Implementation of State policy

§ 6004. Implementation of State policy
(a) As used in this chapter, “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.
(b) The covered agencies shall consider cumulative environmental burdens, as defined by rule pursuant to subsection 6005(a) of this title, and access to environmental benefits when making decisions about the environment, energy, climate, and public health projects; facilities and infrastructure; and associated funding.
(c) Each of the covered agencies shall create and adopt on or before July 1, 2025 a community engagement plan that describes how the agency will engage with environmental justice focus populations as it evaluates new and existing activities and programs. Community engagement plans shall align with the core principles developed by the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee pursuant to subdivision 6006(c)(2)(B) of this title and take into consideration the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council pursuant to subdivision 6006(c)(1)(B) of this title. Each plan shall describe how the agency plans to provide meaningful participation in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
(d) The covered agencies shall submit an annual summary beginning on January 15, 2024 and annually thereafter to the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, detailing all complaints alleging environmental justice issues or Title VI violations and any agency action taken to resolve the complaints. The Advisory Council shall provide any recommendations concerning those reports within 60 days after receipt of the complaint summaries. Agencies shall consider the recommendations of the Advisory Council pursuant to subdivision 6006(c)(1)(E) of this title and substantively respond in writing if an agency chooses not to implement any of the recommendations, within 90 days after receipt of the recommendations.
(e) The Agency of Natural Resources, in consultation with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee, shall review the definitions contained in section 6002 of this title at least every five years and recommend revisions to the General Assembly to ensure the definition achieves the Environmental Justice State Policy.
(f) The Agency of Natural Resources, in consultation with the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee and the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, shall issue guidance on how the covered agencies shall determine which investments provide environmental benefits to environmental justice focus populations on or before September 15, 2023. A draft version of the guidance shall be released for a 40-day public comment period before being finalized.
(g)(1) On or before February 15, 2024, the covered agencies shall, in accordance with the guidance document developed by the Agency of Natural Resources pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, review the past three years and generate baseline spending reports that include:
(A) where investments were made, if any, and which geographic areas, at the municipal level and census block group, where practicable, received environmental benefits from those investments; and
(B) a description and quantification of the environmental benefits as an outcome of the investment.
(2) The covered agencies shall publicly post the baseline spending reports on their respective websites.
(h) On or before July 1, 2024, it shall be the goal of the covered agencies to direct investments proportionately in environmental justice focus populations.
(i)(1) Beginning on January 15, 2026, and annually thereafter, the covered agencies shall either integrate the following information into existing annual spending reports or issue annual spending reports that include:
(A) where investments were made and which geographic areas, at the municipal level and census block group, where practicable, received environmental benefits from those investments; and
(B) the percentage of overall environmental benefits from those investments provided to environmental justice focus populations.
(2) The covered agencies shall publicly post the annual spending reports on their respective websites.
(j) Beginning on January 15, 2025, the covered agencies shall each issue and publicly post an annual report summarizing all actions taken to incorporate environmental justice into its policies or determinations, rulemaking, permit proceedings, or project review. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.)