The Vermont House has passed and sent to the Senate a bill that raises $8 million for efforts to clean up Lake Champlain and other waters of the state.
Under the bill, which passed on a 133-11 roll call vote, farmers, other landowners, cities and towns would face new requirements to reduce polluted runoff flowing into rivers and lakes.
In addition to imposing new anti-pollution requirements, the bill includes some money for grants to help address them. Some $8 million is being raised through new fees and a property transfer tax surcharge.
Lake Champlain has been a prime example of problems, as toxic and foul-smelling blue-green algae blooms blamed on phosphorus-laden runoff have choked parts of the lake.
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