While all eyes are on the multitude of issues and events arising from the Vermont Yankee plant, the Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources committee will begin to look at the impacts on water: drinking water, ground water, and the surface waters of our rivers and streams.  This week we heard testimony from Health Commissioner Wendy Davis who reported that no sampling external to the plant would cause her to conclude that there was an immediate health risk at this time.  No drinking water either on site or off site has shown any signs of tritium, however not knowing the source of the leak was extremely concerning.

We also heard from Dr. William Irwin, Radiological Health Chief at the Department of Health, who was on site at Vermont Yankee.  He reported that Normandeau Associates has been hired as an independent contractor to take water, sediment and fish samples.  Samples will be split, with one set going to the Department of Health and the other going to Vermont Yankee.  This week, DOH staff has been undergoing safety and security training.  Next week, they will be on site to witness the taking of samples.  This is not routinely done but is being implemented to insure the “chain of custody” throughout the process. The speed of this process will be determined by the pace and proximity of wells being drilled.

There are currently 30-32 existing wells (David – not sure what these wells are, but I think most of them don’t have anything to do with the current drilling) with an additional 15 scheduled for drilling.  A short conversation in the cafeteria with Commissioner Johnson, revealed that the Department of Environmental Conservation will be reviewing drilling plans for new wells to make sure aquifers do not cross-contaminate other aquifers.  The terrain of the land, soils and bedrock would not likely move any flow of groundwater west (toward the elementary school) but east toward the Connecticut River.  Hydrological science would suggest that contamination must be getting to the river but there is no evidence of this yet.  Given the shear volume of water in the river, the Commissioner indicated this may be very difficult to detect.

Our committee has requested detailed mapping information and will be tracking what happens in Vernon as it relates to water.

“A crisis is too important a thing to waste,” Rahm Emanual once said, suggesting that such times allow us to consider options that might otherwise have gone unseen.  Given the huge discrepancy between our financial demands and present resources, we definitely face a crisis and a more radical, more bold approach may well be required.

Typically, governments respond to a large budget deficit with a variation on three possible responses: raise revenues, cut expenses, sell assets, float bonds.   In tough times, these solutions alone may seem too painful, unfair, or simply not enough.  Is it possible then, that we could challenge some of these old solution assumptions?  By bringing the legislature and the agencies together, could we redesign the way services are delivered and produce better outcomes with less cost?

Such was the mission of the bi-partisan “Challenges for Change” group which met this summer.   Challenges for Change is a broad brushstroke agreement between the legislature and administration to address a $38 million dollar portion of the $150 million dollar deficit in the General Fund.  Representative Joan Lenes reviewed the structure of this in her Shelburne News article last week.

There has been much push-back and grumbling about this in Montpelier.  Legislators, non-profits, lobbyists and agency members don’t see how a thoughtful response can be made in such a short time.  Others complain about the lack of specifics.

Using the Challenge design, the legislature is removed from providing specific detail and must refrain from micromanaging.  All detail is left to the agencies who have the required experience and expertise.  “Too often,” as Tom Evslin, our chief technical officer has said, “programs are passed by legislatures in Washington or Montpelier which specify minutely how to spend money but don’t define measurable outcomes all this spending is supposed to produce.”

With this in mind, the focus before my joint committee was regulatory reform.   Rather than describing what or how reform will be accomplished, our task is to describe what the end product will look like by defining broad but measurable outcomes such as 1) the permitting process is clear, timely, coordinated and predictable  2) citizens and visitors understand and comply with the laws of the state which protect our natural resources.”

Outcomes with measurable indicators of success are due to Senate Appropriations January 27. The Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture will then have four weeks to develop a detailed plan to achieve the desired outcomes.  The Speaker has requested that we have a bill on the governor’s desk by the end of February.

My own response to “Challenges” has been to quit the grumbling and encourage my colleagues to roll up our sleeves and give this an honest effort as requested by legislative and administrative leaders.  The administration and legislature are working together, for goodness sake, so let’s not waste this opportunity too!   I also believe that a focus on compliance rather than enforcement will allow the agencies to use more creative means to engender compliance.  Making compliance easier, more understandable, providing feedback and rewards for those who comply may well reduce the cost of enforcement after the damage is done.

It is possible that the Challenges process might work well in certain areas, such as regulatory reform, but be less effective in addressing the challenges of education or human services.  As this is all new, it might be that we struggle through with changes for 2011 and are more proficient in 2012.  I do not believe we have harnessed what technology can provide in cutting costs and believe the agencies are hungry for the opportunity to update in this area.

Please join Joan Lenes and me at Open Arms Café Tuesday mornings in February from 7:30-8:30 and most Monday afternoons at Village Wine and Coffee at 4:30.   Or contact me at KLWebb22@mac.com

HOUSE COMMITTEE PRIORITIES

It is Sunday evening and the close of the first week of the 2010 legislative session. The tone of the State House this year is somber as our fiscal constraints loom so large. While most of the news this week has been about the budget, here is some of what to expect from the 14 House committees this year:

1. WAYS AND MEANS: is concentrating on our revenue streams. Expect to hear about steps to provide for greater accountability, jobs creation initiatives, and another look at “current use.”

2. APPROPRIATIONS will focus on expenditures. They will work to create a balanced budget that reflects the values of Vermonters, knowing that many who depend on state government will receive less in the coming year due to the size of the deficit.

3. COMMERCE will address Vermont’s troubled unemployment insurance fund as well as strengthening long-term planning for Vermont’s economic future.

4. HUMAN SERVICES’ primary focus will be responding to budget challenges. As the economy struggles, Vermonters are seeking assistance who have never needed it before. We will hear about chronic mental health issues, changes in child abuse and neglect, and juvenile justice laws.

5. TRANSPORTATION will present a bill that will provide a 1-year pilot project to allow heavy trucks currently restricted to town roads to use our Interstate highways. Expect to hear more about our 433 structurally deficient bridges. Nineteen of these were identified as most urgent as their closure would require a 30-60 mile detour.

6. GENERAL, HOUSING AND MILITARY AFFAIRS put support for families of deployed guard members and returning soldiers as a top priority. They will also be looking at affordable housing delivery systems, labor issues involving mandatory overtime among a myriad of other topics.

7. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS faces a very big year. They will respond to the recent report on government accountability and government restructuring. Another hot topic will be the date of primary elections.

8. NATURAL RESOURCES/ENERGY will focus on several environmental initiatives.  First up is a bill to control the disposal and recycling of electronic waste, or e-waste–TV’s, computers, monitors, printers, etc.  The bill places responsibility for collection of e-waste with the manufacturer including convenient collection.  The committee will continue to gather information on Vermont Yankee to inform the continued operation debate. Whether there will be a vote from the Legislature or not remains to be seen.

9. EDUCATION committee is currently looking at 18 separate reports regarding the restructuring of education, education finance, and a host of other things. Priorities will be likely be set at the end of the week. One committee member told me the magnitude of pressure facing our schools and our taxpayers cannot be overstated.

10. AGRICULTURE will seek continued funding of the Farm to Plate program to invigorate Vermont’s food production systems. They will also address revisions to the Vermont Use Value Appraisal, known as “Current Use” in order to improve its performance while making it less costly.

11. JUDICIARY will spend significant time on the structural reorganization of our court system. Expect also to see legislation regarding texting while driving which was passed in the House last year, but died in the Senate.

12. FISH, WILDLIFE AND WATER RESOURCES will focus first on the riparian buffer bill which establishes a 50 foot buffer along our navigable waterways. This died on the House floor 2 years ago however has more momentum and clarification this year. Testimony from area scientists indicates that this is the cheapest and most effective way to protect our water.

13. INSTITUTIONS AND CORRECTIONS will focus on the direction of the state hospital and the capitol bill including a new health lab. They will continue to work on suggestions generated by Council of State Government report regarding ways to save on the corrections budget while keeping the community safe.

14. HEALTH CARE committee will be spend the first few weeks reviewing the federal health care options and determining what steps need to be taken to maximize reform efforts in Vermont.

Please continue to contact me with your questions and concerns at 233-7798 or KLWEBB22@mac.com.