Gov. Scott Calls For Investment In Clean Water, Commits To Lake Champlain Cleanup

Gov.
Scott Calls For Investment In Clean Water, Commits To Lake Champlain Cleanup.
Officials from Vermont, New York, Quebec and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency all committed to combine their efforts to reduce pollution in Lake Champlain on Monday in the first updated pollution management plan since 2010.
Republican Gov.
Phil Scott signed onto the new plan at an event in Crown Point, New York, alongside the commissioner from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation and Quebec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change.
Scott said his administration’s focus on Vermont’s economy doesn’t mean he plans to take focus away from environmental issues.
“As we look to grow the economy, we need to look in every area, not just the obvious places,” Scott said.
“That’s why I propose to invest $55 million in clean water funding for the coming year, an increase of almost $23 million over current levels.” An excess of phosphorus in Lake Champlain has caused toxic cyanobacteria blooms (also known as blue-green algae) in recent years, closing beaches and lowering property values along the lake.
Deborah Szaro is the acting Region 1 administrator for the EPA, overseeing New England.
“We don’t want those to happen.

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