Vermont § 4821 - Assistance program created; administration

§ 4821. Assistance program created; administration

• (a) Program created. A program is created to provide State financial assistance to Vermont farmers in support
  of their voluntary construction of on-farm improvements and maintenance of acceptable
  operating standards designed to abate nonpoint source agricultural waste discharges
  into the waters of the State of Vermont, consistent with goals of the Federal Water
  Pollution Control Act and with State water quality standards. The program shall be
  conducted in a manner that makes maximum use of federal financial aid for the same
  purpose, as provided by this subchapter, and that seeks to use the least costly methods
  available to accomplish the abatement required. The construction of temporary fencing
  intended to exclude livestock from entering surface waters of the State shall be an
  on-farm improvement eligible for assistance under this subchapter when subject to
  a maintenance agreement entered into with the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. (b) Program administration. The Secretary: (1) Shall administer the State assistance program, for which purpose the Secretary shall
  coordinate with officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or other federal agencies,
  and shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 concerning farmer application and eligibility requirements, financial assistance
  award priorities, and other administrative and enforcement conditions. (2) May provide technical assistance to individual farmers with the preparation of on-farm
  agricultural waste management plans, applications for State and federal financial
  assistance awards, installation of on-farm improvements, and maintenance of acceptable
  operating standards during the term of the program grant agreement. For this purpose,
  State employees of the Agency shall cooperate with federal employees of the U.S. Department
  of Agriculture or other federal agencies. (Added 1995, No. 62, § 37, eff. April 26, 1995; amended 1999, No. 100 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 5, 2000; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 110 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. May 18, 2010; 2015, No. 39, § 3.)