BILL AS INTRODUCED H.422
2025 Page 1 of 4
VT LEG #381096 v.1
H.422 1
Introduced by Representatives Masland of Thetford, Branagan of Georgia, 2
Holcombe of Norwich, and Olson of Starksboro 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Conservation and development; solid waste; landfills; groundwater 6
monitoring; laboratory testing 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 8
Secretary of Natural Resources to require the testing of groundwater samples at 9
the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory (State Laboratory) when 10
sampling occurs at a site where hazardous materials were released. Testing at 11
the State Laboratory would not be required if the State Laboratory lacks the 12
ability to conduct the necessary testing, or, when approved by the Secretary of 13
Natural Resources, testing at a private laboratory would result in significant 14
costs savings to the State or the owner of the contaminated site. 15
An act relating to testing of groundwater samples from contaminated sites at 16
the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory 17
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 18
Sec. 1. FINDINGS 19
The General Assembly finds that: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.422
2025 Page 2 of 4
VT LEG #381096 v.1
(1) groundwater testing in proximity to sites contaminated by hazardous 1
materials is critically important to protecting public and private water supply 2
sources; 3
(2) high-quality laboratory analysis of water samples from groundwater 4
monitoring wells at contaminated sites must be a mandatory component of 5
oversight of the monitoring of contaminated sites; 6
(3) at contaminated sites where a post closure fund is available to pay 7
for groundwater monitoring, it is in the best interests of the State and the entity 8
responsible for the site to keep the cost of groundwater testing low so as to 9
ensure that the cost of groundwater monitoring will not exhaust funding 10
available from the post closure fund; 11
(4) using the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory (State 12
Laboratory) to conduct the testing of groundwater samples from contaminated 13
sites assists in keeping monitoring costs lower than if testing of samples 14
occurred at private laboratories; 15
(5) the State and all water users that might be affected by contamination 16
in their drinking water supply will benefit from timely, affordable, and 17
accurate groundwater testing data; and 18
(6) the State, through the Agency of Natural Resources, should require 19
and facilitate the testing of groundwater samples from contaminated sites at the 20
State Laboratory in order to allow for the lowest cost possible for testing. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.422
2025 Page 3 of 4
VT LEG #381096 v.1
Sec. 2. 10 V.S.A. § 6608 is amended to read: 1
§ 6608. RECORDS; REPORTS; MONITORING 2
(a) For purposes of implementation of this chapter, the Secretary shall 3
adopt, and revise as appropriate, rules that prescribe: 4
(1) the establishment and maintenance of such records; 5
(2) the making of such reports; 6
(3) the taking of such samples, and the performing of such tests or 7
analyses; 8
(4) the installing, calibrating, using, and maintaining of such monitoring 9
equipment or methods; and 10
(5) the providing of such other information as may be necessary. 11
* * * 12
(g) When the Secretary under this chapter requires groundwater monitoring 13
of a site where hazardous materials were released, the Secretary shall require 14
that the testing of groundwater samples from the contaminated site occurs at 15
the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory unless: 16
(1) the State Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory lacks the 17
ability to conduct the necessary testing; or 18
(2) testing at a private laboratory would result in significant costs 19
savings to the State or the owner of the contaminated site, as approved by the 20
Secretary. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.422
2025 Page 4 of 4
VT LEG #381096 v.1
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 1
This act shall take effect on passage. 2