The Water Resources Board has ruled that specialized stormwater permits for four streams in Chittenden County fail to comply with state water quality laws.
The Watershed Improvement Permits were issued by the Agency of Natural Resources for streams that are not in compliance with state water quality standards. The permits are intended to track pollution in those streams and eventually raise the level of water quality.
But the Water Resources Board ruled that the permits must go hand in hand with a plan to improve the health of the streams over five years. ANR’s permits for the streams did not include a plan for raising the quality of the water.
The case came before the Water Resources Board based on an appeal from two environmental groups: The Vermont Natural Resources Council and the Conservation Law Foundation.