§ 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 which makes maximum use of federal financial aid for the same purpose, as provided by this subchapter, and which seeks to use the least costly methods available to accomplish the abatement required.
(b) Program administration. The secretary shall:
(1) 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 chapter 25 of Title 3 concerning farmer application and eligibility requirements, financial assistance award priorities, and other administrative and enforcement conditions; and
(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 life of a state assistance award contract. 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.)