Editor’s note: This commentary is an open letter to Gov. Peter Shumlin, signed by board chairs and members of the Conservation Law Foundation, Lake Champlain International, Lake Champlain Committee, Vermont Conservation Voters and the Vermont Natural Resources Council. Their names are below. Today is Vermont’s first Water Quality Day. (Events)
Dear Gov. Shumlin:
We are writing to urge you to take action that comprehensively addresses the clean water crisis in Lake Champlain. Pollution of our “Great” lake poses risks to public health, harms our economy, Vermont’s reputation as an environmental leader, and diminishes the quality of life for our citizens. You have a historic opportunity to reverse the lake’s degradation, while also helping to solve problems that make Vermont communities more vulnerable in a changing climate. Your leadership at this turning point is perhaps the most important key to the success of this effort.
When it comes to accepting responsibility for cleanup costs, we agree with your conclusion that the state treasury cannot and should not be counted on as the sole funding source. Pollution from for-profit activities should be paid for by those who profit. For example, roughly $70 million of the $150 million cleanup cost estimated in your administration’s Act 138 Report to the Legislature stems from cleaning up “unregulated stormwater discharges” from private parking lots, buildings, and roads. Such private commercial developments should not qualify for public bailouts to implement pollution controls needed to restore and protect Vermont’s water.
You and your “Climate Cabinet” have rightly oriented Vermont around the concept of “resilience” in the face of climate change. In a warming world with a growing population, there is no greater resilience asset than Lake Champlain and the many rivers that flow into it. The lake is one of the largest freshwater bodies in North America and is already the source of drinking water for nearly 200,000 people. As drought deepens in other parts of the country and around the world, Vermont must restore and protect our invaluable fresh water. Moreover, many of the actions we must take to reduce phosphorus pollution in Lake Champlain will also help reduce flooding risks and create green jobs in upstream communities throughout the state.
We appreciate the efforts of the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent request for an effective plan to solve the lake watershed’s pollution problems. Secretary Ross and Commissioner Mears have publicly stated that, under existing law, their agencies have all necessary authority to implement and enforce pollution controls to reduce phosphorus discharges — from all sources — to safe levels. We are concerned that the Vermont plan submitted to the EPA on March 31 fails to require reductions in phosphorus pollution from wastewater treatment plants, does not adequately address public or private stormwater discharge sources, and falls far short of addressing the phosphorus pollution problem from farms.
As governor, you have not shied away from trying to solve big, seemingly intractable problems. Vermonters are looking to you once again for leadership, this time on clean water issues. We the undersigned, like many Vermonters who have waited too long for comprehensive, meaningful action to safeguard water, stand ready to support the bold action we hope you will outline to EPA as you make the commitments required by the Clean Water Act.
Sincerely,
Ann Siebert, chair, Conservation Law Foundation Vermont Advisory Board, on behalf of herself and her fellow board members: Mary Abele, M. Robin Barone, Esq., Hon. Philip H. Hoff, Esq., Crea Linthilac, Lew Milford, Esq., Janet E. Milne, Esq., Jim Murphy, Esq., Beth Montuori Rowles, Andrew Stewart, T.J. Whalen, Rob Woomington, Esq
Gary Kjelleren, chair, Lake Champlain Committee Board of Directors, on behalf of himself and his fellow board members: Alan Booth, Sharon Murray, Ann Ruzow-Holland, Hank Slauson, Mary Van Vleck, Chuck Woessner
Shawn Bartlett, president, Lake Champlain International, on behalf of himself and his fellow board members: Michael Brigham, James Ehlers, Jason Galipeau, Scott Goddard, Bob Qua, Bob Shannon, Frank Stanley
C. Stark Biddle, chair, Vermont Conservation Voters Board of Directors, on behalf of himself and his fellow board members: Judy Bevans, Charlotte Hanna, Kinny Perot, Sue Prent, Warner Shed, Scott Skinner, Tom Slayton, Peter Sterling
Elizabeth Humstone, chair, Vermont Natural Resources Council Board of Directors, on behalf of herself and her fellow board members: Judy Geer, Susan Atwood-Stone, Megan Camp, Richard Czaplinski, Kelly Coleman, John Echeverria, Virginia Farley, Don Hooper, Sally Dodge, Bill Roper, Elizabeth Skarie, Peter Sterling, Gerry Tarrant, Eric Zencey
