The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 3: Executive

Chapter 072: Environmental Justice

• § 6001. Purpose

  The purpose of this chapter is to identify, reduce, and eliminate environmental health disparities to improve the health and well-being of all Vermont residents. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.)

• § 6002. Definitions

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “Environmental benefits” means the assets and services that enhance the capability of communities and individuals to function and flourish in society. Examples of environmental benefits include access to a healthy environment and clean natural resources, including air, water, land, green spaces, constructed playgrounds, and other outdoor recreational facilities and venues; affordable clean renewable energy sources; public transportation; fulfilling and dignified green jobs; healthy homes and buildings; health care; nutritious food; Indigenous food and cultural resources; environmental enforcement; and training and funding disbursed or administered by governmental agencies.

  (2) “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. Examples of environmental burdens include climate change impacts; air and water pollution; improper sewage disposal; improper handling of solid wastes and other noxious substances; excessive noise; activities that limit access to green spaces, nutritious food, Indigenous food or cultural resources, or constructed outdoor playgrounds and other recreational facilities and venues; inadequate remediation of pollution; reduction of groundwater levels; increased flooding or stormwater flows; home and building health hazards, including lead paint, lead plumbing, asbestos, and mold; and damage to inland waterways and waterbodies, wetlands, forests, green spaces, or constructed playgrounds or other outdoor recreational facilities and venues from private, industrial, commercial, and government operations or other activities that contaminate or alter the quality of the environment and pose a risk to public health.

  (3) “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. Environmental justice recognizes the particular needs of individuals of every race, color, income, class, ability status, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity or ancestry, religious belief, or English language proficiency level. Environmental justice redresses structural and institutional racism, colonialism, and other systems of oppression that result in the marginalization, degradation, disinvestment, and neglect of Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color. Environmental justice requires providing a proportional amount of resources for community revitalization, ecological restoration, resilience planning, and a just recovery to communities most affected by environmental burdens and natural disasters.

  (4) “Environmental justice focus population” means any census block group in which:

  (A) the annual median household income is not more than 80 percent of the State median household income;

  (B) Persons of Color and Indigenous Peoples comprise at least six percent or more of the population; or

  (C) at least one percent or more of households have limited English proficiency.

  (5) “Limited English proficiency” means that a household does not have a member 14 years or older who speaks English “very well” as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

  (6) “Meaningful participation” means that all individuals have the opportunity to participate in energy, climate change, and environmental decision making. Examples include needs assessments, planning, implementation, permitting, compliance and enforcement, and evaluation. Meaningful participation also integrates diverse knowledge systems, histories, traditions, languages, and cultures of Indigenous communities in decision- making processes. It requires that communities are enabled and administratively assisted to participate fully through education and training. Meaningful participation requires the State to operate in a transparent manner with regard to opportunities for community input and also encourages the development of environmental, energy, and climate change stewardship. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.)

• § 6003. Environmental justice State policy

  It is the policy of the State of Vermont that no segment of the population of the State should, because of its racial, cultural, or economic makeup, bear a disproportionate share of environmental burdens or be denied an equitable share of environmental benefits. It is further the policy of the State of Vermont to provide the opportunity for the meaningful participation of all individuals, with particular attention to environmental justice focus populations, in the development, implementation, or enforcement of any law, regulation, or policy. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.)

• § 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 Land Use Review 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, 2027 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 March 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, 2025. 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, 2026, 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, 2026, it shall be the goal of the covered agencies to direct investments proportionately in environmental justice focus populations.

  (i)(1) Beginning on January 15, 2028, 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, 2027, 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; amended 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 39, eff. June 17, 2024.)

• § 6005. Rulemaking

  (a) On or before July 1, 2027, 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, 2028 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; amended 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 40, eff. June 17, 2024.)

• § 6006. Environmental Justice Advisory Council and Interagency Environmental Justice Committee

  (a) Advisory Council and Interagency Committee.

  (1) There is created:

  (A) the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (Advisory Council) to provide independent advice and recommendations to State agencies and the General Assembly on matters relating to environmental justice, including the integration of environmental justice principles into State programs, policies, regulations, legislation, and activities; and

  (B) the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee (Interagency Committee) to guide and coordinate State agency implementation of the Environmental Justice State Policy and provide recommendations to the General Assembly for amending the definitions and protections set forth in this chapter.

  (2) Appointments to the groups created in this subsection shall be made on or before December 15, 2022.

  (3) Both the Advisory Council and the Interagency Committee shall consider and incorporate the Guiding Principles for a Just Transition developed by the Just Transitions Subcommittee of the Vermont Climate Council in their work.

  (b) Meetings. The Advisory Council and Interagency Committee shall each meet not more than 12 times per year, with at least four meetings occurring jointly. Meetings may be held in person, remotely, or in a hybrid format to facilitate maximum participation and shall be recorded and publicly posted on the Secretary’s website.

  (c) Duties.

  (1) The Advisory Council shall:

  (A) advise State agencies on environmental justice issues and on how to incorporate environmental justice into agency procedures and decision making as required under subsection 6004(b) of this title and evaluate the potential for environmental burdens or disproportionate impacts on environmental justice focus populations as a result of State actions and the potential for environmental benefits to environmental justice focus populations;

  (B) advise State agencies in the development of community engagement plans;

  (C) advise State agencies on the use of the environmental justice mapping tool established pursuant to section 6008 of this title and on the enhancement of meaningful participation, reduction of environmental burdens, and equitable distribution of environmental benefits;

  (D) review and provide feedback to the relevant State agency, pursuant to subsection 6005(c) of this title, on any proposed rules for implementing this chapter; and

  (E) receive and review annual State agency summaries of complaints alleging environmental justice issues, including Title VI complaints, and suggest options or alternatives to State agencies for the resolution of systemic issues raised in or by the complaints.

  (2) The Interagency Committee shall:

  (A) consult with the Agency of Natural Resources in the development of the guidance document required by subsection 6004(g) of this title on how to determine which investments provide environmental benefits to environmental justice focus populations; and

  (B) on or before July 1, 2025, develop, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources and the Environmental Justice Advisory Council, a set of core principles to guide and coordinate the development of the State agency community engagement plans required under subsection 6004(d) of this title.

  (3) The Advisory Council and the Interagency Committee shall jointly:

  (A) consider and recommend to the General Assembly, on or before December 1, 2025, amendments to the terminology, thresholds, and criteria of the definition of environmental justice focus populations, including whether to include populations more likely to be at higher risk for poor health outcomes in response to environmental burdens; and

  (B) examine existing data and studies on environmental justice and consult with State, federal, and local agencies and affected communities regarding the impact of current statutes, regulations, and policies on the achievement of environmental justice.

  (d) Membership.

  (1) Advisory Council. Each member of the Advisory Council shall be well informed regarding environmental justice principles and committed to achieving environmental justice in Vermont and working collaboratively with other members of the Council. To the greatest extent practicable, Advisory Council members shall represent diversity in race, ethnicity, age, gender, urban and rural areas, and different regions of the State. The Advisory Council shall consist of the following 11 members, with a goal to have more than 50 percent residing in environmental justice focus populations:

  (A) the Director of Racial Equity or designee;

  (B) the following members appointed by the Committee on Committees:

  (i) one representative of municipal government;

  (ii) one representative of a social justice organization;

  (iii) one representative of mobile home park residents;

  (C) the following members appointed by the Speaker of the House:

  (i) one representative who resides in a census block group that is designated as an environmental justice focus population;

  (ii) one representative of an organization working on food security issues;

  (iii) one representative of immigrant communities in Vermont;

  (iv) one representative of a statewide environmental organization;

  (D) one representative of a State-recognized Native American Indian tribe, recommended and appointed by the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs;

  (E) the Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board or designee; and

  (F) the Chair of the Natural Resources Conservation Council or designee.

  (2) Interagency Committee. The Interagency Committee shall consist of the following 11 members:

  (A) the Secretary of Education or designee;

  (B) the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee;

  (C) the Secretary of Transportation or designee;

  (D) the Commissioner of Housing and Community Development or designee;

  (E) the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee;

  (F) the Commissioner of Health or designee;

  (G) the Director of Emergency Management or designee;

  (H) the Commissioner of Public Service or designee;

  (I) the Director of Racial Equity or designee;

  (J) the Chair of the Land Use Review Board or designee; and

  (K) the Chair of the Public Utility Commission or designee.

  (3) Co-chairs. The Advisory Council and the Interagency Committee may each elect two co-chairs.

  (4) Terms. After initial appointments, all appointed members of the Advisory Council shall serve six-year terms and serve until a successor is appointed. The initial terms shall be staggered so that one third of the appointed members shall serve a two-year term, another third of the appointed members shall serve a four-year term, and the remaining members shall be appointed to a six-year term.

  (5) Vacancies. Vacancies of the Advisory Council shall be appointed in the same manner as original appointments.

  (6) Assistance. The Advisory Council shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Agency of Natural Resources.

  (7) Members of the Advisory Council who are not State employees shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses for each day spent in the performance of their duties, as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010. These payments shall be made from monies appropriated to the Agency of Natural Resources. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022; amended 2023, No. 78, § E.700, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 6, § 9, eff. July 1, 2023; 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 41, eff. June 17, 2024.)

• § 6007. Environmental justice mapping tool

  (a) The Agency of Natural Resources shall create and maintain the State environmental justice mapping tool. The Agency, in consultation with the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Interagency Environmental Justice Committee, shall determine indices and criteria to be included in the State mapping tool to depict environmental justice focus populations and measure environmental burdens at the smallest geographic level practicable.

  (b) The Agency of Natural Resources may cooperate and contract with other states or private organizations when developing the mapping tool. The mapping tool may incorporate federal environmental justice mapping tools, such as EJSCREEN, as well as existing State mapping tools such as the Vermont Social Vulnerability Index.

  (c) On or before January 1, 2027, the mapping tool shall be available for use by the public as well as by the State government. (Added 2021, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022; amended 2023, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 42, eff. June 17, 2024.)