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Group Says State Fails To Protect Water

An environmental group says the state has failed to crack down on water pollution from large farms and a sewage treatment plant. The Conservation Law Foundation says that since the state isn’t doing the job, the federal government should take over the clean water permit program.

EPA Objects To Vermont Sewage Treatment Permits

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has taken the rare step of reaching across state lines into Vermont in order to protect Long Island Sound – hundreds of miles downstream. The EPA has formally objected to permits proposed for two Vermont sewage treatment plants. The agency says the Vermont plants would let too much pollution flow down the Connecticut River to the Sound.

State ordered to improve stormwater controls

Within the next few weeks, the state will tell about 400 property owners in Chittenden County that they have to help control stormwater pollution. The Agency of Natural Resources will impose the new regulation in response to a court order. The court said five streams have been damaged by run-off from parking lots and streets and they need to be cleaned up.
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ATVs on public land subject of public hearing

Should all terrain vehicles be allowed to use state land? That’s the subject of a public hearing in Montpelier. The Agency of Natural Resources stirred up considerable controversy when it proposed a rule that would allow ATV connector trails across state property.
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Rail advocates call for multi-state approach

President Obama has pledged $8 billion of stimulus money to upgrade high speed inter-city rail service. States will compete with each other for the money. But because rail service ties communities together, some rail advocates in this region are calling for a multi-state approach.