CCRPC considering Basin 5 Clean Water Service Provider application; schedules Feb. 18 stakeholder meeting

The CCRPC reported that the Vermont DEC’s request for proposals to select Clean Water Service Providers (CWSPs) was expected to be issued soon and that the commission is exploring whether it should apply to serve as the Basin 5 CWSP.

Dan Albrecht and Charlie Baker said the CCRPC Board discussed a possible application at its previous board meeting and authorized staff to continue exploring the option. One rationale cited by staff and board members was that water‑quality work will grow in importance and will directly affect member municipalities, making CCRPC participation appropriate.

Staff told the committee that DEC had received and appeared to incorporate many comments submitted by CCRPC and others on the draft RFP. CCRPC and Northwest RPC are considering a joint application for Basin 5 (Northern Lake Champlain Direct Drainages). CCRPC will host a Feb. 18 meeting in Milton to review the DEC RFP, explain the duties of a CWSP and a Basin Water Quality Council (BWQC), discuss potential applicants for Basin 5, gauge interest in BWQC membership, and consider whether municipalities or organizations would serve as sub‑grantees to help implement, maintain or inspect projects.

Albrecht and Baker cautioned that many operational details — including how CWSPs and BWQCs would function and how participation would be funded — remain unresolved and may not be known for several months. They noted funds will be needed to support council members’ participation and that even after CWSPs are appointed (anticipated in November 2020), project implementation funds likely would not flow until roughly a year later.

What happens next: CCRPC staff will continue to review the DEC RFP, convene the Feb. 18 Basin 5 informational meeting in Milton and report back to the Clean Water Advisory Committee and CCRPC Board as decisions about applications and sub‑grantee roles progress.