Natural Resources Board

The Board is comprised of 9 citizens of Vermont, appointed by the Governor, to serve on one of two panels, the Land Use Panel and the Water Panel. The Board Chair is also Chair of both panels and is a full-time employee while the other 8 members are volunteers. All the members of the Board work on behalf of Vermonters to help guide development and preserve the quality of Vermont’s natural resources.

LAND USE: The Natural Resources Board (Land Use Panel) administers Vermont’s Act 250 program. The people of Vermont recognize the state's most precious assets are its natural beauty, strong heritage, and unique quality of life. They also endorse growth and development to provide much needed job opportunities. Act 250 is designed to guide such growth in a way which does not damage what makes Vermont a very special place.

Adopted in 1970, Act 250’s ten criteria are the foundation of the law. The 10 criteria set the targets for ensuring that a project will not unreasonably diminish air and water quality, streams, wetlands and shorelines and scenic values, natural areas, wildlife habitat and historic sites. The criteria address other impacts of growth, such as the burden on traffic, municipal services and schools. The criteria also insure a project's compliance with a duly adopted local or regional plan.

A unique aspect of the law is that decisions are made by nine district commissions composed of ordinary citizens involved in their communities. Interested persons and organizations have the right to participate in the hearing process, developers have the opportunity to resolve issues with their neighbors, so that a project can go forward but in a way which conforms to the ten criteria. The result is that denials of applications are uncommon; rather, permits are granted with conditions which protect the environment.

The District Commissions are supported by full-time district coordinators, well trained professional individuals who have years of experience in their jobs. Among their responsibilities is to help applicants understand the law and its procedures, and to handle individual cases with efficiency, timeliness and objectivity. A vast majority of cases are concluded within 120 days or less.

The Land Use Panel of the Natural Resources Board makes rules to help interpret Act 250 and to provide clarity and predictability for citizens and developers. The Board also makes procedural rules so participants are clear on what is needed for participation and approval of applications.

WATER: The Water Panel makes rules that help regulate Vermont waters. Under Vermont's constitutional and statutory law, the waters of the State of Vermont are considered part of the public trust, meaning they are to be managed for the benefit of all Vermonters, and not for a private benefit to the exclusion of the general public. Because of its duty to protect the rights of the general public, the Panel strives to make sure that it affords all Vermonters ample opportunity to comment on proposed rules and other matters of policy which affect the waters of the state.

Visitors to the web site should note that effective February 1, 2005, the Vermont Legislature made significant changes to the process of appealing a decision of a district commission or coordinator or a decision of the Agency of Natural Resources. The changes included creating the Natural Resources Board (NRB) to replace the Environmental Board and the Water Resources Board. These two Boards will continue to exist to finish out their appeal dockets.

For further information on the new appeals process please visit other parts of this web site. I welcome you to this Web page and hope you will find it useful and informative. The Board encourages your active participation in the rule making process. Please let us know your ideas and thoughts on how we might change our rules to better preserve and protect not only the rights of our present citizens, but also the rights of our future citizens, to enjoy all of Vermont’s outstanding natural resources.

               Peter Young
               Chair, Vermont Natural Resources Board

Return to Home Page