Intervale composting gets heat from two state agencies over archaeology, environment

The Intervale Center has been forced to scale back its Burlington composting operations and apply for a state Act 250 land-use permit over concerns that it was digging into archaeologically sensitive areas on land replete with Abenaki artifacts and posing environmental risks.

In an August order, the state told the Intervale Center to curtail work on certain parcels and stop digging on its land in the Winooski River flood plain. The Intervale Center may continue the bulk of its composting, but is required to obtain an Act 250 land-use permit from the state for that operation.