The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Vermont Prohibits Landfill Leachate Discharges in Lake Memphremagog Watershed
Last action · January 13, 2026: Read first time and referred to the Committee on EnvironmentSponsors: Woodman Page and 20 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Vermont House Bill 652 prohibits discharging treated or untreated landfill directly into the Lake Memphremagog or transferring it to a local wastewater treatment facility for discharge. The bill takes effect upon passage to protect drinking water and aquatic ecosystems from contamination.
Prohibits the disposal of potentially toxic waste streams near a major cross-border lake that supplies drinking water to over 175,000 residents in Vermont and Quebec.
- Lake Memphremagog is a major international body of water lying partly in northeastern Vermont and partly in southeastern Quebec, serving as an important drinking water and economic resource. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Landfill and Solid Waste Management Facility Operators
Facility operators are prohibited from discharging or transferring leachate into the Lake Memphremagog watershed.
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities in the Watershed
Residents in the Lake Memphremagog Watershed
Local drinking water sources and aquatic habitats receive heightened statutory protection from chemical contaminants.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 652 prohibit?
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Why is the Lake Memphremagog watershed specifically targeted?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedRead first time and referred to the Committee on Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 16 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Discharge Prohibitions
The bill builds on prior Act 250 permit restrictions by establishing a permanent statutory ban across the entire Lake Memphremagog watershed.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.vermont.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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