Litter with a Story To Tell: Clean Water: Vermont Legislation protecting Vermont waterways. Litter

Litter Picking is an All Season Sport.

Vermont Legislation

protecting Vermont Waterways.

VT. Act 526 ESTABLISHMENT OF LAKE SHORELAND PROTECTION STANDARDS.

On June 4, 2014 at the

Vermont Environmental Consortium-3rd Annual Water Quality Conference, held at Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center

60 Lake Street, Burlington Vt.,

Gov. Shumlin signed into law, Act 526 AN ACT RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LAKE SHORELAND PROTECTION STANDARDS.

The ceremonial public signing also included Act 117 (H.356). AN ACT RELATING TO PROHIBITING LITTERING IN OR ON THE WATERS OF THE STATE

Thank You Governor Shumlin and

special thanks to Vt State House Reps., David Deen, Maida Townsend, Kate Webb, Jim McCullough, Robert Krebs, and Vt, State Senate reps., Diane Snelling, Virgina Lyons, Bob Hartwell.

And thanks goes out to James Ehlers of Lake Champlain Intl. , and the many other citizen Vermonters who continue to speak for the health and care of our waters.

The Governor presented me with the signing pen. Let us hope that the ink does not run out before the job is done. Let us all help support the work required to improve and maintain clean vibrant fresh waters in Lake Champlain and its' tributaries.

How act 117 (H.356) came about.

I discussed the lack of litter laws pertaining to trash thrown into Vermont waterways with Maida Townsend, representing South Burlington's Chittenden 7-4 District in the Vermont House. Maida worked with David Deen and other fellow legislature members to create and pass, H.356.

Act Summary

Act No. 0117 (H.356). Conservation and development; water resources; littering

An act relating to prohibiting littering in or on the waters of the State

This act clarifies that littering both on land and on State waters is prohibited. When litter is thrown from a motor vehicle, a rebuttable presumption that the driver threw the litter is created. This act extends this legal presumption so that it applies to operators of watercraft and snowmobiles. The act also repeals the section that provides that a person who fails to pay his or her littering fine shall have his or her license revoked. Finally, the act designates a day of each year Green Up Day and designates September of each year River Green Up Month.

Effective Date: July 1, 2014