C. Vermont Environmental Science and Analysis Center

Introduction

Vermont historically has been viewed as a leader in the stewardship of its environmental resources and in environmentally related education programs. Our state values wise use of resources, protection of natural environments, and the development of sustainable communities and systems.

Vermont's reputation and its broad-based citizen support of an environmental ethic serves to attract individuals interested in preserving and fostering this ethic. These people and the state's image provide a credible basis upon which to market environmentally based technologies, "green" products and environmentally related expertise and services.

The rural countryside of Vermont, its towns, forests, lakes and mountains, offer the raw material for environmentally based research, services and products.

/17/ Educational opportunities within our state's 31 post secondary education institutions provide the human resources necessary to bring good ideas through the planning stages to implementation and product and service development. Along with these in-state resources, Vermont has access to internationally competitive, leading edge technology firms in the region, including those in Canada. The prominence of small/medium sized firms enhances our diverse and innovative infrastructure .

To make the most of these resources, there must be a state commitment to provide a focus and to support appropriate and superb communication among the varied environmental research and development efforts. A Center for Environmental Science and Analysis can serve these important goals.

Background

Vermont is currently the home of internationally recognized environmental scientists. The strength and depth of environmental and biological sciences and modeling present at Vermont institutions of higher education provides a foundation upon which to build research and create new business opportunities that can become a key component of the economy . The University of Vermont is the state's major research institution, rich in intellectual resources; it boasts a unique Program for Natural Sciences and the Center for Groundwater Remediation Design in the College of Engineering and Mathematics, as well as a number of other points of excellence related to environmental sciences and analysis. The Vermont Law School was credited, in U. S. News and World Report, with being the best environmental law program in the country. These institutions, together with other post-secondary units and a number of highly successful environment-based companies, such as Aquatec and Gardeners Supply, provide the basis for a center of environmental excellence in Vermont. This base is enhanced by reasonably current connections among the individuals within their organizations and with State government.

The University of Vermont's identification of the environment as a Center of Excellence and UVM's recent initiatives, particularly those of the Environmental Task Force, to focus environmental programs and stimulate initiatives in innovative curriculum, establish a firm focus and foundation upon which environmental related programs, business support systems, and sagacious public policy can evolve.

Vermont has become a recognized center for research and development in the area of groundwater remediation design, the development of living systems, and in natural and agricultural sustainable systems. In particular, Vermont and the university enjoy a national and international reputation in water-related research and development. Thus the Center will aggressively seek to define this competency and resource immediately and explore opportunities to develop water as one major focus of the Vermont Environmental Science and Analysis Center.

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Mission Statement

Although not intended to be all inclusive, the Environmental Science and Analysis Center shall have as its mission to complete at least the following activities:

1. Define and evaluate areas of environmental technology and services which are suitable in Vermont for promotion and development, in areas such as:

2. Promote and initiate discussions in Vermont on the broader topic of sustainable economic development policies and practices in Vermont. This work will place the environmental science and analysis initiative in a broader context of future policy direction that may further enhance the initiative and areas of future focus.

3. Identify research and development needs, marketing and product testing needs, university curriculum needs, and employee/workforce training needs based on statewide surveys and discussions.

4. Define the function and structure of a state environmental science and analysis center and clearinghouse as the overall coordinating function in the state for environmental technology research development and deployment.

5. Compile a publicly accessible, on-line inventory of Vermont environmental technology businesses, research, university curricula, funding, tax policies, economic and regulatory barriers.

6. Develop a mechanism to establish and continuously fund the Center.

7. Develop, as appropriate, legislative recommendations that will provide economic incentives and remove regulatory, economic and institutional barriers to environmental technology innovation.

/ 19 / 8. Develop an information and education program that includes a means todisseminate infor mation on environmental technologies to a broad audience including technology innovators, financing sources, businesses, state government, and higher education. Sponsor a major statewide environmental business technology conference as a means to educate Vermonters on opportunities and programs.

Scope of Services

Funding and Organization

The Vermont Environmental Science and Analysis Center would initially fall under the directive of the Vermont Technology Council. It is not the intent of the Council at any time to direct operations or manage support for any activities. Rather, the Council is focused on stimulating collaborative efforts.

A proposal was submitted in August 1994 to the EPA by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources as a collaborative initiative with the Vermont Technology Council, and the University of Verrnont. The proposal requested funding for "Environmental Science Technology Infrastructure Development: An Action Plan for Vermont." The plan proposes to:

1. Establish a Project Advisory Committee, led by three-person Executive Committee, and including key stakeholders in the envisioned Center.

2. Develop a publicly accessible consolidated computerized Vermont environmental technology/service database using existing resources wherever possible.

3. Define specific areas for Vermont to place emphasis in commercializing and promoting environmental technology and services.

/ 20 / 4. Develop a comprehensive and integrated strategy to meet needs identified during detailed assessments in order to advance selected environmental technology and services emphases.

5. Specify detailed criteria to be met by center or virtual center of environmental technology and services to:

6. Plan for structure, management and funding of center meeting the criteria above with minimal new bureaucracy.

7. Propose legislative, rule-making and overall administrative strategy to facilitate envisioned center's function and the environmental technologies/ service agenda previously identified.

8. Propose policy and curricular change ideas that would enable Vermont colleges and universities collectively to be more effectively involved in environmental research, development and training .

9. Design a statewide public policy educational program and debate on sustainable economic development, including a statewide environmental business and technology conference.