The Lake Champlain Committee posed eight questions to major party candidates for Governor of Vermont.  Here are Republican Brian Dubie's responses.

1. What efforts would you champion to protect and restore Lake Champlain and the rest of Vermont’s waters?

 Lake Champlain is an irreplaceable resource. It does more to define the character of Vermont than any other feature except the Green Mountains.

 A 100% fishable, swimmable Lake Champlain is a goal that I will pursue aggressively as Governor.

 Only in the past decade has Vermont made an active, funded commitment to the lake. Since 2004, the state has committed upwards of $57 million dollars in its efforts to improve water quality, and in turn has leveraged an additional $65 million in federal funding. Although we haven’t yet seen the results we would like to see that our efforts are making a difference. Recent monitoring information is starting to indicate that our efforts are working.  I believe we finally have the right programs and practices in place to make a difference. Clearly, restoring Lake Champlain is not a short-term proposition.

 So it’s essential that our policies promote permanent, long-term, sustainable solutions.

 The Center for Clean and Clear was established in May 2007, and over the past two and a half years, has established a functional structure and strong lines of communication and collaboration across programs, departments, agencies, and organizations. It puts us in a strong position to make tangible progress going forward.

2.  There are 16 stormwater-impaired streams in Vermont.  What would your Administration do to address the challenges posed by them?

 I strongly support the concept of municipal or watershed-based stormwater utilities, such as the one established by the City of South Burlington.

 That comprehensive, local approach to monitoring, repairing and when necessary, replacing infrastructure, working with new construction, establishing new stormwater treatment systems and engaging in local outreach and education will be our most effective approach yet to preventing and mitigating runoff.

 The Framework for Remediation of Vermont’s Stormwater-Impaired Waters of January 2010 reflects the complexity of sources, strategies and individual and group stakeholders involved in the continuum of research, development of TMDLs, remediation and monitoring. Those complexities make the work slow and costly. But the complexity is more manageable when we approach it locally.

 ANR’s implementation of a general permit program and an aggressive program to bring 1,757 expired stormwater permits spanning approximately 25 years, up-to-date is also a good approach.

 The Agency says that of the original 1,757 expired projects, more than 1,100 have been successfully processed, either re-issued or terminated for various reasons. Ongoing litigation within the impaired watersheds has prevented re-issuance of 316 permits from the original backlog, and approximately 300 un-impaired water permits remain under investigation by the Section. Thus far, only 23 permits have required initiation of formal enforcement actions.

 I will press for more programs like this one, to achieve our goals faster and at a lower cost.

 As Governor, my number one priority will be to get Vermont’s economy back on track. Our magnificent Lake Champlain is one of the most important economic resources we have. We will be successful in satisfying all of our other priorities – like remediating our stormwater-impaired waters -- if we have an abundance of jobs, a strong, dynamic economy and robust state revenues for funding water quality initiatives.

 3. Homeowners and businesses can do a lot to reduce stormwater impacts from their properties such as adding rooftop gardens, using porous or perforated pavement instead of asphalt for driveways and parking lots, and installing rain barrels to catch stormwater flow. However, some voluntary stormwater control measures can be quite costly. Would you support a program of state tax incentives, analogous to those available for implementing energy-saving measures, for homeowners and businesses who install stormwater controls beyond permit requirements?

 Yes, I would consider tax incentives, when state revenues present a healthier picture to support them. Again, I think that local stormwater utilities are very useful at this level. We need to do everything we can to encourage action by individuals and small businesses. We should all do our part for Lake Champlain.

4.  Increasing recreational use of Lake Champlain has led to conflicts between neighbors and those planning dock expansions in Colchester and Ferrisburgh.  There is currently no state policy to guide decisions about when expansions impinge on the public resource.  How would your Administration go about addressing these conflicts?

 Each dock expansion plan and each site is unique. They must be consistent with state encroachment standards for impact. But beyond that, the decision is a local one.

 5.  Agriculture is an important part of Vermont’s landscape but dairy farming creates inevitable conflicts with water quality protection efforts.  Challenges include manure storage, transport and disposal; erosion associated with annually tilled lands; and direct access of livestock to the state’s waterways.  What steps would your Administration take to balance conflicts between dairy farming and water quality protection?

 Basin-wide estimates are that about half of non-source point phosphorus pollution comes from agricultural lands. In recent years, Vermont’s agriculture community has made gains, but we still have a lot of work to do. Clean and Clear’s suite of programs shows quantified accomplishments in 2009, as noted in the most recent Clean and Clear Annual Report.

 The cooperation between the Agency of Agriculture and the Agency of Natural Resources has grown stronger over the past few years. I will continue to support cooperative action to protect the lake.

 My administration will continue to fund farmers’ efforts, consistent with available resources, and will aggressively pursue all available federal funding. I will also support the critical efforts of our volunteer lake groups and non-profits who have created inclusive partnerships that are and will continue to be instrumental in finding a lasting solution.

 Among the most promising new efforts will be to:

• Increase the number of extension personnel (agronomists and nutritionists) available for on-farm technical assistance, education and support.
• Expand the Farm Agronomic Practices and Nutrient Management Programs to support increased use of soil erosion reduction practices and alternative manure application techniques, such as soil aeration.
• Provide incentives for the use of low-impact development (LID) practices in new and existing development.
• Provide financial and regulatory incentives to install fencing (temporary and permanent), watering systems, and stream crossings in order to improve management of animals in and around streams and rivers.
• Expand the use of certified reserve manure pits to avoid the use of waivers, whenever possible, for spreading manure when soil conditions are conducive to run-off.

 I have personally worked with dairy farmers and utilities all over the state, but especially in the Lake Champlain watershed, to bring digesters online all over Vermont -- securing funding, facilitating utility hook-ups and negotiating sustainable pricing for the power they generate. According to our Secretary of Agriculture, Vermont has more biodigesters per capita than any other state in America.

 6. A 2009 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers identified a need for infrastructure upgrades in Vermont amounting to $395 million for drinking water and $167 million for wastewater.  In recent years failed pipes have resulted in raw sewage spills in Swanton, Burlington, and St. Johnsbury; failures in sewage pump stations occur regularly in towns around the state.  What would your Administration do to address unmet water quality infrastructure needs throughout Vermont?

 My administration’s capital budget will continue to emphasize funding for water quality infrastructure upgrades, and we will continue to aggressively leverage federal funds and support municipalities’ grant applications.

 In addition, I support efforts to:

• Aggressively pursue additional federal funding for our aging infrastructure.
• Develop and implement a set of water quality-based design standards and best management practices for road maintenance and drainage and link state transportation funding for municipalities to adherence to the standards.
• Provide technical assistance and financial incentives to encourage municipalities to adopt stream corridor protection that prevents conflicts between streams and infrastructure and provides for stream equilibrium, floodplain function, and vegetated buffers on tributaries and lakeshores.
• Provide incentives for the use of low-impact development (LID) practices in new and existing development.

 7. New York State recently passed legislation banning the application of phosphorus from established lawns unless a soil test indicates it is necessary. The Legislation was identified as a “next step” in the revised TMDL implementation plan. Would your Administration support similar legislation in Vermont and would you task Agency of Natural Resources personnel with drafting a bill?

 As a rule, I prefer voluntary standards to mandates and bans. I would support public education and outreach to curb unnecessary phosphorus application on lawns. The Lake Champlain Committee’s “Don’t P on Your Lawn” campaign is an example of the kind of outreach and education that is making a difference.

 8. The Lake Champlain Committee has produced a <link get-involved protection-pledge www.lakechamplaincommittee.org>Lake Protection Pledge outlining steps individuals can take to reduce their personal impact on water quality. The pledge has been taken by thousands of individuals including Governor Douglas and Champ and it’s also promoted by the Agency of NaturalResources through the Clean and Clear program. Would you take the pledge and encourage citizens to do the same as a way of fostering personal action to protect lake health?

I have taken the pledge. I would use it as a tool to raise public awareness of the huge impact that each of us can have on water quality in Lake Champlain, and in waterways all over our state.