VT H0652

Prohibits discharge of landfill leachate (treated or untreated) into any water within the Lake Memphremagog watershed, including both direct discharges and transfers to wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into the watershed.

Lake Memphremagog provides drinking water to over 175,000 people in Quebec municipalities (Sherbrooke, Magog, Potton, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac) and has 71% of its watershed in Vermont with more than 100 tributaries.

Prior to a 2019 Act 250 permit restriction, 15,000 gallons per day of landfill leachate untreated for PFAS was disposed at Newport's wastewater treatment facility.

ANR studies found Lake Memphremagog had the highest PFOS levels of all Vermont surface waters sampled (2.8 ppt, 70% of the 4 ppt maximum contaminant level), and Newport's wastewater facility measured higher for PFAS than any other Vermont facility tested.

Takes effect upon passage and amends 10 V.S.A. § 1259 to add the prohibition as a new subsection (k).