Since the July 10-11 flood, Gov. Phil Scott has issued an Emergency Declaration and two addendums, significantly relaxing Vermont regulations, delaying deadlines for license renewal and tax payments, and providing for easier refills of prescription medications. Overall, the declarations:
- Modify and waive Act 250 and motor vehicle rules and requirements to facilitate infrastructure rebuilding and replacement and transport of emergency goods, supplies and materials.
- Flexibility for out-of-state licensed professionals to come into Vermont to support response and recovery efforts.
- Facilitate independent electrical work by supervised journeyman electricians.
- Extend DMV licensing and registration requirements and tax return due dates to provide relief to Vermonters impacted by flooding.
- Waive rules relating to operating hours and tonnage at the Coventry landfill and transfer stations to facilitate debris removal and disposal.
- Allow flexibility for refills of maintenance medications.
The first Emergency Declaration issued July 9 provided “general direction to suspend relevant rules and permitting requirements necessary to respond to the conditions created or caused by Flood of 2023 for hazard mitigation, support response and recovery efforts to save lives and property.”
Then came Addendum 1, July 13, dealing mostly with expediting repair and recovery:
- Modify Act 250 Land Use Permit conditions on gravel pit and rock quarry extraction, asphalt plants and concrete plants, including operating hours, noise and blasting, crushing, limits on area, rate, depth, or volume of extraction, and related trucking for infrastructure restoration and repair.
- Waive federal regulation of maximum driving times for commercial truckers transporting supplies, goods, materials, equipment, and fuel needed for emergency relief efforts;
- Streamline the process for permitting operation of overweight or oversize vehicles to be used for emergency response and infrastructure rebuilding.
- Waive professional licensing rules and requirements to allow identified out-of state professionals in good standing to obtain a temporary license and provide response and recovery services needed in Vermont.
- Modify Electrical Licensing Board requirements to allow a licensed Journeyman Electrician working under the supervision of a Vermont licensed Master Electrician to work on a site without direct supervision. Addendum 2, issued July 19, covered DMV licensing and other changes:
- Modify DMV regulations to extend license and registration renewals, registration certificates and number plates and license and registration transfer by new Vermonters by 60 days beyond the required date.
- Extend license photo validity from 9 to 13 years for Vermonters needing a new photo license during the emergency declaration period.
- Waive rules as needed to allow temporary licensing for out-of state professionals equivalent to Vermont Oil Heat and propane technicians and S-License Plumbers and Electricians to provide response and recovery services needed in Vermont.
- Extend the tax return due dates for taxpayers affected by flooding to November 15, 2023 for sales and use, meals and rooms, income withholding and quarterly estimated payments for income taxes.
- Waive production and fuel use limits for hot mix asphalt plants being used for emergency road repair.
- Waive operating hour and tonnage limits of the Coventry Landfill and transfer stations.
- Authorize alternative waste storage and hazardous waste management at transfer stations
Addendum 3 of July 20 dealt with health care:
Expanded waiver and greater flexibility for out-of state professionals in good standing to obtain a temporary license and provide response and recovery services needed in Vermont, including specifically security services and pharmacists.
Waive rules and requirement to ease 30-day refills of maintenance medications that are not regulated drugs.