Legislative Study Committee on Wetlands

Print

---

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

1:30 PM

Meeting Called to Order

• Michael O'Grady, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

1:35 PM

Review of Legislative Charge

• Michael O'Grady, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

1:50 PM

Election of Committee Chair

Committee Members

2:00 PM

Overview of Wetlands Law and Agencies of Jurisdiction

• Michael O'Grady, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:45 PM

Input of Agency of Natural Resources

• Julie Moore, Secretary, Agency of Natural Resources
  

3:30 PM

Input of Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

• Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  

4:15 PM

Committee Discussion

5:15 PM

Scheduling of Next Meetings

5:30 PM

Adjourn

---

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Wetlands Functions and Values

• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources
  
• Hannah Smith, Associate General Counsel, Agency of Natural Resources
  

9:30 AM

Wetlands Regulations in the State

• Karina Dailey, Trudell Environmental Services
  
• Art Gilman, Gilman & Briggs Consulting
  

10:15 AM

Farming and Wetland Regulations

• Jackie Folsom, Lobbyist, Vermont Farm Bureau
  

10:25 AM

Wetland Regulations from a Developer Perspective

• Pat O'Brien, SD Ireland
  

11:00 AM

Wetlands Regulations at the Federal Level

Committee Development of Questions for U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to Answer at the October 23rd meeting

• Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Environmental Advocates

• Jon Groveman, Policy and Water Program Director, Vermont Natural Resources Council
  
• Phil Huffman, Director of Government Relations and Policy, The Nature Conservancy
  
• David Mears, Executive Director, Audubon Vermont
  

12:15 PM

Wetlands and the Ski Industry in Vermont

• Jeff Nelson, Principal, VHB
  

12:30 PM

Committee Discussion

1:00 PM

Adjourn

---

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

1:00 PM

Legislative Study Committee on Wetlands

Committee Discussion

2:00 PM

Public Comments on Wetlands

Members of the public wishing to testify can either sign up ahead of time by emailing lleehman@leg.state.vt.us, or sign up on the day of the hearing beginning at 12:30 PM at Space on Main, Bradford VT

• Walter Gladstone, Owner, Newmont Farm, member Vermont Dairy Producers Association
  
• Karen Horn, Director, Public Policy & Advocacy, Vermont League of Cities and Towns
  
• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources (Follow up from 10/9 meeting)
  
• Earl Morrison, Barnet
  
• Dave Thompson, ENV-SCI (Natural Studies) degree student
  
• Brett Urie, Craftsbury
  
• Ernest Wright, Farmer, Derby
  

4:30 PM

Adjourn Public Hearing

---

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

1:00 PM

Legislative Study Committee on Wetlands

Committee discussion

• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources (Follow up from 10/9 meeting)
  
• Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  

2:00 PM

Public Comments on Wetlands

Members of the public wishing to testify can either sign up ahead of time by emailing lleehman@leg.state.vt.us, or sign up on the day of the hearing beginning at 12:30 PM at the St. Albans Free Library.

• Michael Adams, Senior Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  
• Jim Eikenberry, Wetlands Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  
• Jim Eikenberry, Wetlands Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  
• Robert Fireovid, Owner, Health Hero Farm, South Hero
  
• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources (Follow up from 10/9 meeting)
  
• Bill Rowell, Chair of Board, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance
  
• Hannah Smith, Associate General Counsel, Agency of Natural Resources
  
• Amanda St. Pierre, Executive Director, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance
  

4:30 PM

Adjourn Public Hearing

---

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Legislative Study Committee on Wetlands

Committee discussion

9:30 AM

Public Comments on Wetlands

Members of the public wishing to testify can either sign up ahead of time by emailing leeehman@leg.state.vt.us or sign up on the day of the hearing beginning at 8:30 AM at the Bridport Masonic/Community Hall

• Heather Darby, Agronomy Specialist, UVM Extension
  
• Brian Kemp, President, Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition
  
• Margaret Laggis, Lobbyist, Green Mountain Dairy Farmers
  
• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources (Follow up from 10/9 meeting)
  
• Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  
• Ed Payne
  
• Pam Stefanek, Manager, Otter Creek Natural Resources Conservation District
  
• Adrian Wiegman, GUND Graduate Fellow, Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources
  

---

Friday, December 13, 2019

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Committee Discussion with Leg Council

• Jessica Buckley, Vermont Association of Conservation Districts
  
• Laura Lapierre, Wetlands Program Manager, Agency of Natural Resources (Follow up from 10/9 meeting)
  
• Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  
• Bill Rowell, Chair of Board, Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance
  
• Hannah Smith, Associate General Counsel, Agency of Natural Resources
  

12:30 PM

Adjournment

---