Committees & Agency Coordination

Throughout the study, the Vergennes PEL Study team will consult with technical and policy committees to provide topic-specific input and help guide the direction of the study and coordinate with public, state, and federal agencies that regulate cultural and natural resources to help identify potential impacts and issues early in the planning process.

 

Committees

Members of the committees include but are not limited to representatives from municipalities, the Addison County Regional Planning Commission (ACRPC), state agencies and local businesses and organizations. Committees will be notified of the availability of draft study results that are relevant to their jurisdiction and expertise and will be given appropriate opportunities to provide comments and consultation at various stages throughout the planning process. The goal is to identify, collectively, a focused and reasonable range of alternatives for potential environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The ground rules that will guide committee decision-making processes include:

  • Quorum is 50% of appointed members
  • Consensus when possible
  • Voting when consensus not possible
  • Document dissenting views

Technical Committee - Role and Members

Assembled to guide, review and validate data collection methods, analysis, findings and recommendations brought forth by the consultant team.

Members include:

  • Voting Members:
    • Chair – Matthew Arancio (VTrans), Transportation Planning
    • Bruce Martin (VTrans), Roadway Design
    • Fred Kenney (Addison County Economic Development), Economic
    • Jeff Ramsey (VTrans), Environmental
    • Jim Larrow (City of Vergennes), Municipal Public Works
    • John Bull (Town of Ferrisburgh), Municipal Public Works
    • Joel Perrigo (VTrans), Municipal Assistance
    • Katie Raycroft-Meyer (ACRPC), Land Use Planning
    • Mike Winslow (ACRPC),  Transportation Planning
    • Shannon Haggett (City of Vergennes), Land Use Planning
    • Alysha Kane (VTrans), District Maintenance
  • Non-Voting Members:
    • Adam Lougee (ACRPC), Planning, Observer
    • Amy Bell, VTrans, Planning, Observer
    • Faith Dall, VTrans, Planning
    • Elizabeth Shipley (FHWA), Environmental
    • Patrick Kirby (FHWA) Environmental
    • Jacqueline DeMent (FHWA), Planning
    • James LaCroix (VTrans), Structures
    • Amanda Holland (VTrans), Bicycle & Pedestrian

Policy Committee - Role and Members

Assembled to review and endorse study findings and make a recommendation to VTrans on planning decisions to be carried forward into a future environmental review.

Members include:

  • Voting Members:
    • Chair – Adam Lougee (ACRPC), ACRPC
    • Bill Smith (Vermont Truck and Bus Association), Trucking
    • Brian Shupe (VNRC), Environmental
    • Clark Hinsdale (Town of Ferrisburgh), Municipal Appointee
    • Diane Lanpher (State Representative from Vergennes), Legislature
    • Dickie Austin (City of Vergennes), Municipal Appointee
    • Ron Redmond (City of Vergennes), Municipal Appointee
    • Jeff Nelson (Town of Addison), Municipal Appointee
    • Jesse Devlin (VTrans), VTrans
    • Matthew Arancio (VTrans), VTrans
    • Mary Rudd (Town of Panton), Municipal Appointee
    • Matt Birong (State Representative from Vergennes), Legislature
    • Mike Audy (Town of New Haven), Municipal Appointee
    • John Roleau (Town of New Haven), Municipal Appointee (Alternate)
    • Renny Perry (Vergennes Partnership), Business
    • Phil Summers (Addison County Chamber of Commerce), Business
    • Rhonda Williams (Town of Waltham), Municipal Appointee
    • Brent Rakowski (ACRPC Transportation Advisory Committee), Municipal Appointee
    • Jubilee McGill (State Representative from New Haven), Legislature
  • Non-Voting Members:
    • Elizabeth Shipley (FHWA), FHWA
    • Patrick Kirby (FHWA), FHWA
    • Jacqueline DeMent (FHWA), FHWA
    • Faith Dall (VTrans, VTrans
    • Amy Bell, (VTrans), VTrans, Observer
    • Joel Perrigo (VTrans), VTrans, Observer
    • Mike Winslow (ACRPC), ACRPC, Observer

Agency Coordination

Federal law (23 U.S.C §139) requires that a plan be established for coordinating with the public, state, and federal agencies that regulate cultural and natural resources. In advance of future environmental reviews, an Agency Coordination Plan has been developed to meet this requirement. The plan defines roles and guides coordination activities through the duration of the Vergennes PEL Study with interested, involved agencies that may be cooperating and participating agencies under NEPA in future environmental review(s). These agencies will be requested to provide written concurrence at two study milestones: Statement of Purpose and Need and the Initial Short-List of Alternatives.

Agencies - Role and Participants

For projects potentially subject to NEPA, a Lead Agency is required and is responsible for ensuring that the environmental review process is conducted properly and in accordance with all applicable environmental regulations. For the purposes of the Vergennes PEL Study, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans/AOT) is the lead state agency with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) advising as the lead federal agency under NEPA for future environmental studies.

The Vergennes PEL study, per NEPA and PEL guidance, involves two types of agencies  involved in the Study in addition to the lead agencies- Cooperating Agencies and Participating Agencies.

Cooperating Agencies are any federal agency, other than a lead agency, that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposed project or project alternative. For the Vergennes PEL Study, the following agencies are considered Cooperating Agencies:

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (federal agency)
  • U.S. Coast Guard (federal agency)

Participating Agencies are those federal, state, or local agencies or federally-recognized tribal governmental organizations with an interest in the study. For the Vergennes PEL Study, the following agencies are considered Participating Agencies:

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (federal agency)
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (federal agency)
  • U.S.D.A. – Natural Resource Conservation Service (federal agency)
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (federal agency)
  • Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians (tribal nation)
  • Penobscot Nation (tribal nation)
  • Narragansett Nation (tribal nation)
  • Cayuga Nation (tribal nation)
  • Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (tribal nation)
  • Agency of Natural Resources (state agency)
  • Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Division for Historic Preservation (state agency)
  • Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Housing and Community Development (state agency)
  • Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (state agency)
  • Agency of Administration, Buildings and General Services (state agency)
  • City of Vergennes (local and regional agency)
  • Town of Addison (local and regional agency)
  • Town of Ferrisburgh (local and regional agency)
  • Town of New Haven (local and regional agency)
  • Town of Panton (local and regional agency)
  • Town of Waltham (local and regional agency)
  • Town of Weybridge (local and regional agency)
  • Addison County Regional Planning Commission (local and regional agency)

For additional information on the coordinating agencies, please review the Vergennes PEL Agency Coordination Plan.

Meeting Materials & Documents

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Materials

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meetings 

June 12, 2024

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Presentation - June 12, 2024

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting - Meeting Minutes - June 12, 2024

December 5, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Presentation - December 5, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting - Meeting Minutes - December 5, 2023

June 21, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Presentation - June 21, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting - Meeting Minutes - June 21, 2023

March 1, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Presentation - March 1, 2023

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting - Meeting Minutes - March 1, 2023

November 10, 2022

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Presentation - November 10, 2022

Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting - Meeting Minutes - November 10, 2022

Starting in November 22, the Technical Committee and Coordinating Agencies elected to have future meetings jointly. Meeting materials for all Technical Committee meetings held prior to November 22 are provided in the "Technical Committee Meeting Materials" dropdown. A list of all Agency Coordination meetings held prior to November 22 and a copy of the Agency Coordination Plan are provided in the "Agency Coordination Meetings and Documents" dropdown.

Agency Coordination Meetings and Documents

Agency Coordination Documents 

Agency Coordination Meetings 

Starting in November 22, the Technical Committee and Coordinating Agencies elected to have future meetings jointly. All joint Technical Committee and Agency Coordination meetings and associated materials are provided in the "Technical Committee and Agency Coordination Meeting Materials" dropdown. 

  • October 17, 2022
  • March 22, 2022