VT S0124

Transfers regulatory authority over Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) from the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to the Agency of Natural Resources to comply with federal Clean Water Act requirements, effective July 1, 2025

Establishes a Vermont Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) CAFO permit program with specific thresholds for large CAFOs (e.g., 700+ mature dairy animals, 1,000+ cattle) and medium CAFOs (e.g., 200-699 mature dairy animals)

Requires the Secretary of Natural Resources to engage stakeholders by December 1, 2025 and submit a report by February 15, 2026 on CAFO program implementation, including an inspection plan for animal feeding operations

Exempts large farm operations with an active CAFO permit from the $2,500 annual operating fee to the Agency of Agriculture, and allows emergency exemptions for winter manure application (December 15 - April 1) under specified criteria

Mandates coordination between the Agency of Natural Resources and Agency of Agriculture through a formal document replacing the existing memorandum of understanding, with the document to be issued by September 1, 2025 and reviewed every five years