The following guidelines and guidance documents may be used to make recommendations to Act 250 District Environmental Commissions, the Public Utility Commission, and other local, state, and federal regulatory decision-makers for permit conditions, mitigation agreements, land conservation instruments (e.g., easements), and, if necessary, permit denials. The guidelines and guidance documents are designed for application on a case-by-case basis in order to allow for the use of professional judgment and discretion by the Agency of Natural Resources. Case-by-case determinations will be made by the Agency based on the individual project and circumstances.
Agency of Natural Resources Central Office
- Guidance for Agency Act 250 and Section 248 Comments Regarding Riparian Buffers (2005)
- Riparian Buffers and Corridors: Technical Papers (2005)
- Guidelines for the Review and Evaluation of Potential Natural Resources Impacts From Utility-Scale Wind Energy Facilities in Vermont (Draft) (2006)
Department of Environmental Conservation
- Growth Center and Growth Management (Municipal Pollution Control Priority System Rule)
- Flood Hazard Area and River Corridor Protection Procedure (2017)
- Procedure for Conducting Hazardous Material Investigation and Remediation Activities Under 30 V.S.A. Section 248 (2013)
- River Corridor Protection Guide (2008)
- Best Management Practices for Blasting Activities to Avoid Environmental Contamination (2016)
- Practice for Review of a Groundwater Monitoring Plan for Blasting Activities at Rock Quarries under Act 250 Criteria 1,3, and 9E (2017)
- Groundwater Monitoring Plan Template
- Vermont Geological Survey Practice for Review of Rock Extraction Activities, Act 250 Criteria 9D and 9E (2016)
- Vermont Geological Survey Practice for Review of Sand and Gravel Extraction Activities, Act 250 Criteria 9d and 9E (2016)
- Pentachlorophenol Report (2016)
Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Conducting Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plant Inventories in Connection with Section 248 Projects (2016)
- Guidance for Non-Native Invasive Plant Species Monitoring and Control in Connection with Section 248 Projects(2016)
- Review and Minimization of Impacts to Bats from Wind Energy Facilities (2016)
- Design of Stream/Road Crossings for Passage of Aquatic Organisms in Vermont (2009)
- Protection & Mitigation of Impacts to Great Blue Heron Rookeries in Vermont (2002)
- Review & Mitigation of Impacts to Significant Black Bear Habitat in Vermont (2023)
- Review & Mitigation of Impacts to White-Tailed Deer Winter Habitat in Vermont (1999)
- Natural Communities Conservation Guidelines (2004) and Table 1 (2019)
- Planting Guidance for the Revegetation of Riparian Areas in Vermont (2016)
- Guidance to Address Impacts to Deer Winter Habitat Associated with Solar Energy Projects (2015)
- Guidelines for Protection of Bicknell's Thrush Habitat (2023)
- Guidelines for Protection of Grassland Bird Habitat (2021)
- Regulatory Review Guidance for Protection of Northern Long-Eared Bats and Their Habitats (2017)
- Potential Roost Tree Survey Method for Endangered Bats (2021)
- Potential Roost Tree Retention Guidelines for Endangered Bats (2017)