Phil Scott administration pushes through wetlands changes, despite lawmakers’ objections

The Phil Scott administration implemented wetlands rule changes to facilitate housing development near wetlands, reducing buffer zones from 50 to 25 feet in designated areas. Lawmakers rejected the initial proposals, but the administration revised the rules to avoid litigation, retaining the buffer zone reduction while removing provisions for building in unmapped wetlands. Environmental organizations, including the Vermont Natural Resources Council, agreed not to sue after the changes were scaled back.