Christopher Kilian, CLF VP and Vermont Director, talks at the signing of H.258 with Gov. Peter Shumlin beside him. CLF Staff Attorney Anthony Iarrapino and Lake Champlain Lakekeeper Louis Porter are in the background.

A bill giving citizens more information about, and more say over, environmental enforcement cases in Vermont was signed into law by Gov. Peter Shumlin yesterday, the successful conclusion of a several-year-long effort by Conservation Law Foundation.

Under current law in Vermont, when environmental pollution cases brought by the state are settled, citizens often don’t know about it, and even if they do they have little chance to bring evidence they may have to light – even when they have been directly affected by those violations.

In July, when the newly signed act goes into effect, that will change. Anyone with an interest in such cases will be able to file comments, and those who can demonstrate that an interest of theirs was harmed by the pollution will be able to request a hearing before a judge to present their evidence.

The new law applies to both Vermont environmental laws and national programs administered by the state, a lack which had put the state at odds with federal requirements.

Shumlin said the change in the law will make state government more transparent, a priority of his administration.  CLF Vermont Director Christopher Kilian agreed, adding that the new law is “a big step forward for Vermonters to participate in their government”

The bill was worked on by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and was sponsored by Rep. Tony Klein and Rep. David Deen, the heads of the two environment committees in the Vermont House. In the Senate, it was championed by Sen. Ginny Lyons’ and her Natural Resources and Energy Committee.

During the two legislative sessions lawmakers worked on the measure several industry and business organizations which originally had concerns about the measure came to support its passage. Tom Torti, the president of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, who joined the administration and CLF at the signing, said it is important to hold those who break environmental laws to account.

The Burlington Free Press story about the bill signing can be found here.