Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is Up and Running
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is operational today, but the effects of Tropical Storm Irene that ravaged the state had significant impacts on the agency’s daily business.
Flooding of the Winooski River in Waterbury forced the closure of the state office complex where the majority of ANR’s staff were located. We are moving as quickly as possible to restore the entire range of services Vermonters expect from the agency. Our dedicated, hard-working staff is fully committed to getting the agency running as close to 100 percent as we can. Until the state office complex is reopened – which is expected to take many months – agency staff will be working from temporary office space. Until staff are relocated to the temporary space many are working in the field, from home or from regional offices.
The Barre Regional Office at 5 Perry Street, Suite 40, is the location, for now, to procure special hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, such as permanent licenses for residents 65 and older. Regular licenses are also available at the Barre office. The department is also urging people to purchase standard hunting or fishing licenses from the Fish & Wildlife website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com because most of its inventory of licensing supplies was destroyed by flooding. You can call them at 802-241-3700 if you have any questions.
The Vermont State Parks reservation call center has also been relocated to the Barre Regional Office in the interim. Customers who wish to purchase park passes or make reservations in person should go to the Barre site. Reservations can also be made online at www.vtstateparks.com/htm/reservations.htm or by calling 1-888-409-7579.
Meanwhile, agency properties in areas where flooding occurred are being inspected and inventoried for damage. The Fish & Wildlife Department is currently assessing the amount of damage at the Roxbury Fish Hatchery, for instance, and is inspecting access areas and launch ramps on waterways where the worst flooding occurred. Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry is urging anybody with photographs of damaged department properties to submit them via email to john.hall@state.vt.us.
We know Vermonters and visitors alike will soon turn to their outdoor passions like hunting and fishing as part of the healing process from this devastating time. The agency may have been dealt a few setbacks, but we will do all we can to provide the services you expect.
In order to assist the public we have developed a flood information webpage and are issuing bulletins, press releases and fact sheets on flood clean-up and mitigation. These are available via our homepage at www.anr.state.vt.us and include:
Hazardous Waste Drop Off Locations
ANR Guidelines for Working in Wetlands, Lakes and Ponds, and on Stormwater Projects
ANR Guidelines for Failed Septic Systems
ANR Plans for Expediting Recovery Efforts
Remember, especially during this challenging time for Vermonters and our communities, ANR is here to help!
For agency contact information and a full list of regional offices, visit the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources’ website at www.anr.state.vt.us.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 