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Vermont agriculture official outlines steps for towns after law limits stormwater utility fees for farms
Summary
At the Oct. 3 MS4 Subcommittee meeting, Nina Gage of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Farms and Markets explained how SB 115 (Act 43) changes which farms can be charged stormwater utility fees and advised municipalities on steps to coordinate with the Agency to identify farm operations and manage exemptions.
Nina Gage, Assistant Director for Water Quality at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Farms and Markets, told the Chittenden County MS4 Subcommittee on Oct. 3 that the agency is available to help municipalities implement the recent change in state law (SB 115, also described as Act 43) that affects whether farms can be billed by municipal stormwater utilities.
Gage described VAAFM’s Agricultural Non‑Point Source Pollution Control program, saying the agency conducts regular inspections and provides education and technical assistance. She said VAAFM generally has "10–12 farm inspectors" and works with partners such as natural resources conservation districts to support farms, especially smaller operations.
Gage reviewed how farms are classified for regulatory and inspection purposes. She said a Small Farming Operation (SFO) can be…
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